Ancient Wisdom Atlas

Motif

Inadequate force against overwhelming circumstance

inadequate_force_against_overwhelming_circumstance

A motif of the Duality and Cosmic Opposition family, within the sub-family Freedom, necessity, and unequal power. Every row below is a tagged passage; each rests on a quote in its source text.

1 occurrences

1 traditions


daoist

  • Chuang Tzu: Mystic, Moralist, and Social Reformer CHAPTER XI. / ON LETTING ALONE. / CHAPTER XII. / THE UNIVERSE.; lines 5295-5422 confidence: medium

    Chiang Lü Mien reports instructing the Prince of Lu in decorum, thrift, loyalty, and impartiality; Chi Ch'ê replies with the image of a mantis trying to stop a carriage, noted as also used in chapter iv, and with the image of a tower displaying valuables.

    Chi Ch'ê likens Chiang Lü Mien's princely advice to a mantis trying to stop a carriage.

    read in the book