The Donkey in Kuei-Chou
September 1st 2008 17:19
Category: Oriental Thoughts
There are no donkeys in Keui-Chou. Once a man brought one up the river on a cargo boat; but on his arrival he saw that it could not be used in the high mountains, and so he set it loose. A tiger saw it, and was terrified by the enormous beast, which he thought must be a god. He hid in a wood to observe it. After a while he approached a little nearer, but the donkey pretended not to notice anything.
The next day the donkey brayed, and the tiger ran away in a terrible fright, thinking that the donkey was going to bite him. He was still afraid when he went up and looked at it again, but it did not seem to have many tricks.
Gradually he became used to the braying. He went nearer and nearer, now in front, and now behind, but did not yet touch it. Day by day he became braver, until at last he gave it a push. At this the donkey could no longer contain its anger and lashed out with its leg, much to the delight of the tiger, who now knew that the donkey had no other means of defense. He leaped on to its back, tore open its neck, and ate it.
The next day the donkey brayed, and the tiger ran away in a terrible fright, thinking that the donkey was going to bite him. He was still afraid when he went up and looked at it again, but it did not seem to have many tricks.
Gradually he became used to the braying. He went nearer and nearer, now in front, and now behind, but did not yet touch it. Day by day he became braver, until at last he gave it a push. At this the donkey could no longer contain its anger and lashed out with its leg, much to the delight of the tiger, who now knew that the donkey had no other means of defense. He leaped on to its back, tore open its neck, and ate it.
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A donkey looks so big that one thinks that it must be very strong; it brays so loud that it must be very powerful. As long as it did not display its powers, the savage tiger did not dare attack and eat it; but when it displayed them, its doom was sealed.
Understand this, and apply it to the art of management.
A donkey looks so big that one thinks that it must be very strong; it brays so loud that it must be very powerful. As long as it did not display its powers, the savage tiger did not dare attack and eat it; but when it displayed them, its doom was sealed.
Understand this, and apply it to the art of management.
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