6. Every fool has something to teach you, every wise person a flaw to avoid.  

Avoid the temptation to dismiss a person who does not appear to be knowledgeable or helpful at first sight.  There is no such thing as a completely foolish person and there is nobody who is all-knowing.  Nonetheless, avoid foolish people and spend more time with those who are wise.  Do not worry if you cannot find someone who can answer all your questions and meet all your needs; you will be educated by a variety of people.  It is your responsibility to seek widely and deeply, and then to integrate the knowledge or wisdom that has been imparted to you.

Do not be discouraged if you find it hard to understand lessons at first.  The most useful are usually the hardest to absorb and those that are easily learned are often shallow.  Reflect on the lesson over time and it will permeate your understanding with all its layers, benefits, and insights.  Learn the lesson from every angle; realize its strengths, weaknesses, when it applies, and when it does not.  

7. Develop vision, courage, and discretion.

Without vision, you will be chasing illusions.  Without courage, you will never take the first step in your journey.  Without discretion, you will not know which path among many to choose.  

8. Learn the rhythm and pacing of life.  

There is a time to move quickly, tread carefully, remain motionless, and even retreat.  Know when winning is losing and losing is winning.  Surrendering can be appropriate in the short and long term – it buys you time to regroup and rebuild your resources while preventing your annihilation.  Do not make the mistake of committing to one tempo or volume; learn how to vary them.  It is important to know when to remember and when to forgive; when to prosecute and when to extend mercy; when to pursue and when to surrender.

9. Know when to shine, when to appear dull.

There is a time to hide your true qualities.  Never appear too perfect.  Know when to be rare, when to be common.  At times, what you have to offer will be ignored and even despised.  It is appropriate in this situation to pretend to be less than who you are.  But there will be a time when you will have the opportunity to reveal the best of who you are.  At this time, do not hold back, it does no one any good, most of all yourself.

10. Be strict with your sins, gentle with those of others.

Being compassionate is both practical and wise.  What you find easy to control is rarely so in others, and vice versa.  Everyone suffers and struggles even as they triumph and rejoice.  Most importantly, those who are merciful receive mercy in return.  However, know who to extend mercy to and who to crush and destroy.  If the situation requires the latter path, choose so after much contemplation and certainty, but ensure that you crush and destroy completely.  Not doing so opens yourself up to future attack.  Some people do not deserve any mercy.