To Conquer Oneself Is Strength

answered by Laozi, Dao De Jing 33

기원전 6~4세기

🎬 TODAY'S FILM — IT ASKS THIS

Good Will Hunting (1997)

dir. Gus Van Sant · USA

A person of rare gift pushes chances away for fear of being hurt. Can that defense be called the wisdom of self-protection, or is it a fight with oneself that must be crossed?

THE QUESTION THE FILM ASKS

What holds me down — the world's wall, or the fear and self-sabotage I made myself?

THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER · ORIGINAL

勝人者有力自勝者強

📜 THE CLASSIC'S ANSWER

One who conquers others has force; one who conquers himself is strong.

💡 TL;DR

Laozi said conquering others is mere force; true strength lies in conquering oneself.

📝The Classic Answers

Laozi said conquering others is mere force; true strength lies in conquering oneself. The enemy of one who sabotages himself despite great gifts is not outside but within. To stay the hand that wrecks itself first, out of fear of being hurt — that is the real strength Laozi meant. Before I fight the world, I choose to face first the fear inside that sits me down.

— ONGO · Curator

🌱Apply It Today

When you catch yourself saying 'it won't work anyway' today, ask whether that is the world's voice or your own fear.

📖 Classic Source: Laozi, Dao De Jing 33. Ancient text in the public domain; rendered and interpreted independently by ONGO.
The film is honored as an equal questioner; its plot is rendered only as a universal dilemma. The classic source is an ancient text (Public Domain), and the reflection is 100% original ONGO content.