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Modern interpretation

When trouble arrives, meet it with calm courage instead of panic; that attitude helps drive the trouble away. For example, a student who stays steady after a presentation goes wrong can recover and finish well.

Modern interpretation

Even a flood of problems can begin to recede when a wise person calmly looks for a way through them. For example, breaking a huge deadline into smaller steps can make an overwhelming assignment manageable.

Modern interpretation

People who do not collapse under hardship make hardship weaker. For example, someone who responds to a setback by finding the next practical step prevents one failure from controlling the rest of their life.

Modern interpretation

Persistent effort can wear down trouble, just as a strong ox keeps pulling a cart through deep mud. For example, patiently repairing a difficult project can finally move it past obstacles that stopped quick attempts.

Modern interpretation

Even when troubles arrive one after another, a person who does not abandon their purpose can outlast them. For example, someone who keeps studying through several disappointments may eventually pass the exam they once failed.

Modern interpretation

People who do not cling selfishly to wealth when they have it need not despair when it is gone. For example, someone who uses prosperity wisely and shares it with others can face a leaner time without feeling that life has lost its worth.

Modern interpretation

Wise people know that the body is naturally exposed to pain, so they do not let every discomfort shake their minds. For example, a patient facing a long recovery can accept the difficulty while calmly following the treatment plan.

Modern interpretation

A person who does not chase constant pleasure and accepts that hardship is part of life is less likely to be defeated by it. For example, someone who expects training to be uncomfortable is more likely to keep going when progress feels slow.

Modern interpretation

Those who do not become overly attached to pleasure are less overwhelmed when pain arrives. For example, a person who enjoys success without depending on it can handle a disappointment without losing balance.

Modern interpretation

Someone who can treat hardship as part of the work earns a greatness that even opponents may respect. For example, an athlete who accepts exhausting practice instead of complaining may win the admiration of a rival.