He who knows others is wise;Whether or not you agree with the last two lines, the first lines are true so far as I can tell. I suppose there is a metaphysical truth, objective truth, subjective truth, etc, and it's hard to say which is which. Still, the first two lines are the best definition of wisdom versus enlightenment that I have seen.
He who knows himself is enlightened.
He who conquers others has physical strength.
He who conquers himself is strong.
He who is contented is rich.
He who acts with vigor has will.
He who does not lose his place (with Tao) will endure.
He who dies but does not really perish enjoys long life.
The middle dichotomies are likewise interesting, but not as powerful as the first two.
The last lines make me think of karma. It isn't necessarily you, or your "soul" or something that moves forward, but if you live in accordance with Tao, if you make a difference in the lives of others, that part will propagate forward even after you have stopped making that particular wave.
I see the "he who dies but does not really perish" with two meanings. First is yours, then I also see it as you can die, but your body becomes part of the earth; "you" never really perish because you are at one with the earth (Tao) and continue to be so, perhaps even more so, when your molecules become part of the earth.
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