9.Small Taming
The Lines
Bottom. [9] A man of
ability and strength is accustomed to forcing his way ahead. But when that path
is effectively blocked, he leaves off being forceful, and remains in readiness
to go forward or back as the situation requires. Good fortune will be the
result, because he is not testing his fate, and he stands ready to utilize
whatever opportunities open to him.
2. [9] The man is surrounded by people like himself who wish
to advance, but are being held back. He immediately recognizes that were he to
make the same attempt, he would meet the same fate, so he holds back and avoids
an embarrassing set-back. Things work out well eventually, because he does not
exert himself against the spirit of the times, but waits for a favorable
moment.
3. [9] The situation appears deceptively favorable. The man
thinks he has sufficient power to move ahead, but he is mistaken. The times
favor opposing forces, even when they appear to be weak and inconsequential.
The man cannot understand this, because everything appears favorable, so he
makes a forward movement anyway. The result is an embarrassing failure.
4. [6] When a person is in a subordinate
position, his greatest asset is honesty and truth. If his advice is consistently
directed toward what is right and just, even though the situation is
threatening and is potentially extremely dangerous, he need have no fear,
because he knows that in the end, right will prevail. The powerful man listens
to him and recognizes that the rightful path is best, and things work
themselves out favorably.
5. [9] If a person has little personal power but is loyal to
those with whom he is associated, he can nevertheless exert great influence,
provided of course that loyalty does not mean obsequiousness and pandering.
Loyalty receives confidence and trust from those to whom one is loyal. This
mutual relationship combines the resources of all those associated together and
is thus beneficial to all concerned.
Top. [9] Success is within the man's grasp, but it has been
achieved by modest means and is such a delicate thing, it could easily be
undermined by a bold move. Because it is so uncertain, it would be a great
mistake if it were taken for granted and brought into being by a final display of
forceful effort. It has been gained by holding back and being receptive rather
than by exerting power. If, in these final moments, one were to suddenly switch
and push forcefully ahead, all one's efforts would be brought down. The
superior man is therefore content with the way things are going, the extent of
success achieved, even if it has not gone as far as one could wish. To push it
further will only bring it all down.
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