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.

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.'

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

The leaders who do good deeds reside in the hearts of the people.

The very highest leader is barely known by men. Then come the leader they know and love. Then the leader they fear. Then the leader they despise. The leader who does not trust enough will not be trusted. When actions are performed without unnecessary speech The people say, "We did it ourselves.

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.