Jeo on Clubhouse

Updated: Aug 13, 2023
Jeo Clubhouse
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Government is a true religion: it has its dogmas, its mysteries, its priests. To submit it to the individual discussion is to destroy it; it is given life only through the national mind, that is to say, by political faith, which is a creed.

It can be difficult to foresee the twists and turns which compel misfortune to beget fortune, and vice versa. There once was a (father), skilled in divination, who lived close to the frontier (with his son). One of his horses accidentally strayed into the lands of the Xiongnu, so everyone consoled him. (But) the father said, “Why should I hastily (conclude) that this is not fortunate?”

After several months, the horse came back from the land of the Xiongnu, accompanied by another fine horse, so everyone congratulated him. (But) the father said, “Why should I hastily (conclude) that this can not be unfortunate?”

His family had a wealth of fine horses, and his son loved riding them. One day (the son) fell off the horse, and broke his leg, so everyone consoled (the father). (But) the father said, “Why should I hastily (conclude) that this is not fortunate?”

One year later, the Xiongnu invaded the frontier, and all able-bodied men took up arms and went to war. Of the men from the frontier (who volunteered), nine out of ten men perished (from the fighting). It was only because of (the son's) broken leg, that the father and son were spared (this tragedy). Therefore, misfortune begets fortune, and fortune begets misfortune. This goes on without end, and its depths can not be measured.

-from Huainanzi (淮南子), a collection of a series of scholarly debates before 139 BC using Daoist, Confuscianist, and legalist concepts and theories.

TLDR : 塞翁失馬,焉知非福 "Every cloud has a silver lining. / A setback may turn out to be a blessing in disguise."

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