61
A great country is like the lowland toward which all streams flow. It is the Reservoir of all under heaven, the Feminine of the world.
The Feminine always conquers the Masculine by her quietness, by lowering herself through her quietness.
Hence, if a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win over the small country; and if a small country can lower itself before a great country, it will win over the great country. The one wins by stooping; the other, by remaining low.
What a great country wants is simply to embrace more people; and what a small country wants is simply to come to serve its patron. Thus, each gets what it wants. But it behooves a great country to lower itself.
- Lao Tzu, TAO TEH CHING
translated by John C.H. Wu
No comments:
Post a Comment