A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.

When the best leader's work is done the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'

The wicked leader is he who the people despise. The good leader is he who the people revere. The great leader is he who the people say, 'We did it ourselves.'

A leader is best
When people barely know he exists
Of a good leader, who talks little,
When his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
They will say, “We did this ourselves.

To know yet to think that one does not know is best; Not to know yet to think that one knows will lead to difficulty.

When the best leader's work is done the people say, ''We did it ourselves.''