Chapter 3 of the Tao Te Ching - Jealousy

Children are the most wonderful creatures on the planet. The younger they are the more pure of heart they are. They are not bogged down by the petty jealousies of adults. Yeah, right! Ever watch the interaction of two children if one thinks the other is getting more attention? Quarreling almost always ensues. How do you stop it? Good question. How do you stop it in adults? Even better question. Stopping the quarreling is simple. Don’t exalt the gifted over the non-gifted. If you must exalt one, you must also exalt the other.

Here is another no-brainer. How do you keep people from stealing from you? Do not amass treasures to the point that any one would want to. If something is never seen, then it is never desired.

The wise ruler will keep his people well fed, healthy and strong. But he will keep their hearts calm and ambitions dampened. If the populace is ignorant of what they can attain and lack the knowledge of how to attain it, then the clever people will not try to interfere with the ruler. Out of sight, out of mind.

As an individual, do nothing. Live a simple life and you will live a happy one.

(Note: The Tao Te Ching was written 600 years before Christ in ancient China. The politics of the day actually worked well with the above. Today however, we live in an age where the increase in knowledge is paramount to our very survival. Unfortunately, if you look at today’s political leaders you will see that many of them seem to believe that an ignorant populace is still a good thing. It is those very leaders that we must replace if we are ever going to gain true peace on this planet.)