Credit |  Youtube.com The Lines Bottom. [6] A man who travels afar moves amongst people whose customs are unfamiliar to him, as his manners are unfamiliar to them. This is not the time to engage in trivial or superficial activities that might easily be misunderstood or incorrectly interpreted. A stranger in a strange place cannot be sure how his actions will be viewed. He does not know how people will respond to him. Therefore, he should be serious but pleasant, friendly but not overbearing, kind but reserved, open but dignified. Any kind of exceptional behavior subjects the stranger to the possibility of rejection. 2. [6] A traveler’s modest behavior wins him acceptance, and he is able to settle down. The people he meets are good to him, and are willing to help him find necessities and manage comfortable accommodations. He makes friends with one person in particular, and this person is a great help to him in getting settled and getting acquainted with all the amenities th...

Credit | youtube.com The Lines Bottom. [9] It is a real act of kindness when a man who has completed his own necessary tasks goes to the aid of someone else who is in need of help without making a fuss over it. But people receiving such aid should be careful not to let the helper overdo it. It ceases to be an act of giving if the person helping injures himself thereby. This requires careful consideration to strike the right balance. 2. [9] To give to another beyond your capacity is no virtue. To destroy yourself to benefit someone else is to do injury to a highly deserving person--yourself! Such over-giving demeans the giver and does more harm than good, even to the recipient. He who serves should be careful to maintain his own self-respect. Serving others is an onerous duty if it means doing injury to oneself, and he who requires that kind of service is an oppressive tyrant. 3. [6] Three people do not make a companionable group , since there is a tendency for one to feel the other ...

Credit | youtube.com The Lines Bottom. [6] If a man becomes accustomed to a dangerous situation and accepts it as "the way things are," it becomes a part of him, and is integrated into his personality and his way of thinking. When that happens, he has lost all sense of direction. He no longer can discriminate between right and wrong, and this necessarily leads to his downfall. 2. [9] When a dangerous situation first develops, it is not a wise move to attempt to escape from it at one fell swoop, nor should one try to accomplish anything important in spite of the danger. The first precaution is to avoid being overcome by the danger. The next step is to carefully access the situation and study the danger. Then the man is in a position to gradually extricate himself from the danger, one small step at a time. Any sudden move would be too disruptive and would undermine his plans. But if he carefully and slowly worked his way through, he will find success. 3. [6] When there appe...

Credit | youtube.com The Lines Bottom. [9] When a man first awakens to the proper ways of living, things are not clear, and there is some degree of confusion. He tries to discern the workings of fate and life, but his conclusions tend to contradict one another. With his day-to-day involvement in the world, everything descends upon him at once. Clarity is demanded of him, but it is difficult to come by. At such a stage, it is important that the man remain calm and not allow himself to be rushed. If he maintains his tranquility and contemplates each situation carefully and in order, the necessary clarity will come in time. It is the beginning where the greatest difficulty lies. Once he becomes accustomed to observing his environment with insight and wisdom, his mind will develop clarity and things will begin to fall into place. It is at the beginning that clear vision approached quietly and calmly is so important, because how can he develop the habits of mind that accompany wisdom if he...

Credit | youtube.com The Lines Bottom. [6] The struggle with obstructions and difficulties is over. Normalcy returns, and new opportunities present themselves. The man now has time to relax and recover his equilibrium. He can make plans for progress and good fortune. 2. [9] Inferior men are still around, but their time is past. They can easily be removed from the scene, and then the struggle is completely over. It is not necessary to take vigorous action, which might instead spoil the time of recovery. Taking the high ground and adhering totally to what is right will provide the personal strength necessary to complete the final phases of deliverance. 3. [6] When a man of modest means escapes from difficulties into an easier lifestyle, he may feel tempted to make a display of his newly acquired freedom. He may even want to boast of his good fortune to perfect strangers, and brag about the advantages he now enjoys. But this would be a big mistake, because it attracts those who are natu...

Credit | youtube.com The Lines 1. [9] The man wishes to move ahead, but he faces great obstacles, and these prevent him from doing anything. The result would not be good if he tried to move ahead anyway, so he waits for a more auspicious time when his abilities will have a greater chance to succeed. 2. [9] Opposing forces are overwhelming, and there is no thought of making an advance. There is no other course to take but to wait, to conserve resources, and to move ahead when the possibility opens. 3. [9] A way finally opens for advancement and the man can move ahead with companions having the same desire for progress. But he must do so with caution, keeping his sights on his goal. Since the way is clear, it would be easy for him to lose control and permit things to get out of hand or to suffer reverses. 4. [6] The way is clear, and there is great energy in reserve for advancement. Great success is assured if the man keeps this energy under careful control. 5. [6] Great, uncon...

Credit | youtube.com The Lines Bottom. [6] A man who tries to impress followers with himself or his background in hopes of stirring up enthusiasm for some task in which he has an interest only invites disaster. Enthusiasm should never rest solely on the leader's personal qualifications or charisma. Those sycophants caught up in such hero-worship can easily be led down a harmful path. Enthusiasm should be centered on worthwhile goals and on the work to be done. It should be a dedication to a cause that unites people together and enlists their best abilities and the best aspects of their character. 2. [6] A superior man does not allow himself to be misled by a deceiver. While others may be taken in by tricksters, he immediately recognizes the ruse being attempted and perceives the intent of charlatans from the very beginning. He is not fooled by pretenders, but remains as steady as a rock. He does not flatter those leaders who would mislead him, and counsels those who look up to hi...