Bears Quote by Laozi
“To bear the country's disgrace is to rule the shrines of soil and grain. To bear the country's misfortunes is to be the king of the world.”
About This Quote
Source Classic: “Tao Te Ching” by Laozi, c. 4th century BC
Bearing national disgrace leads to ruling essential resources; bearing misfortune leads to global dominance.
In simple terms: Accepting hardship can grant power over essential and global matters.
Key Takeaway
Embrace responsibility amid adversity.
Themes
responsibility
power
adversity
leadership
Mood
thoughtful
cautious
philosophical
Type
political
ethical
When to use this quote
- government crises
- resource management
- personal setbacks
Key Concepts
philosophy
political theory
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- Is power earned through hardship legitimate?
- How can we prevent abuse of such authority?
A Different Perspective
The statement may imply that suffering justifies authority, which can be dangerous.
![“If I do manage to come up with a scheme [to naming], however, I stick to it, which is why my cats are named after gods-Loki and Athena, who are, respectively, absolutely straightforward and affectionate, and dumber than dirt. I learned my lesson. I will name my next cat 'Satan' or 'Marduk' or…” quote by Ursula Vernon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/85d/ursula-vernon-21101_affectionate_if-i-do-manage-to-come-up-with-a-scheme_100482.jpg)
![“The rationale which accompanies that imposition of male authority euphemistically referred to as 'the battle of the sexes' bears a certain resemblance to the formulas of nations at war, where any heinousness is justified on the grounds that the enemy is either an inferior [part of the] species or…” quote by Kate Millett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/895/kate-millett-7301_accompany_the-rationale-which-accompanies-that-imp_8896.jpg)
