First you must suffer greatly for a long time, and then when
struggle seems endless, you’ll succeed. So believed Hans Christian Andersen,
who loved theatre. Andersen wrote many plays, today all but forgotten: then,
often unperformed. Comedies, tragedies, romances: his history as a playwright
was disappointing. For him, success came through the small. Perhaps someone
failing so often was able to understand the magical transformations of the
fairytale, for Andersen’s fairytales became immortal.
Lao Tzu
thought that action led to loss. Much preferable to let things take their natural
course, without violence or force. This was his counsel:
I have three Treasures;
Guard them and keep them safe:
the first is Love.
The second is, Never too much.
The third is, Never be the first in the world
…
Through not presuming to be the first in the world,
One can develop one’s talent and let it mature.[1]
The Jesuits
pray to be given grace to do something small for God every day; many surely
succeed. Success implies that things go well because intentions are fulfilled.
Therefore intentions are of utmost importance. Clear sight, says Lao Tzu, sees
what is small. Success through the small: think on it.
[1]No. 67 in
the translation of Lin Yutang. http://www.ligo.caltech.edu/~mevans/docs/DDJ-LinYutang.html
accessed 26/1/2015.
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