This excerpt from the Tao Te Ching is the best advice for living life I have ever read, as valid today as some 2500 years ago when it was written.

In dwelling, be close to the land.
In meditation, go deep in the heart.
In dealing with others, be gentle and kind.
In speech, be true.
In ruling, be just.
In business, be competent.
In action, watch the timing.

Tao Te Ching
by Lao Tsu (Author)
translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English (1972)

link to translation on the web:
http://www.dailyi.org/archive_tao.html
(this quote is from chapter 8)