We suggest you turn to the Tao Teh Ching:
59. A Sensible Guide In governing people and serving nature, nothing is better than conserving. In general, only conserving deserves to be called early readiness. Early readiness: call it emphasizing accumulating virtuosity. If one emphasizes accumulating virtuosity then there is nothing one cannot conquer. If there is nothing one cannot conquer, no one knows one's limit. Those of whom no one knows their limits may take states. The mother of taking states is able to endure. This is called the deep root and inherent base Of the guide to long-life and enduring vision. -- tr. C. Hansen