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“A man in a boat is crossing a river when he sees an empty boat on course to collide with him. This doesn’t make him angry even though he’s an angry person. But then he sees someone is in the boat — he calls out, telling them to change direction. When his first call gets no response, he calls out again. And when the second is also met with silence, he calls out a third time, throwing in some insults for good measure. Before, he wasn't angry — now he is. Before, the other boat was empty — now there's someone in it. When you imagine the boats empty you won’t be so angry.” — Zhuangzi
A man in a boat is crossing a river when he sees an empty boat on course to collide with him.
This doesn’t make him angry even though he’s an angry person.
But then he sees someone is in the boat — he calls out, telling them to change direction.
When his first call gets no response, he calls out again.
And when the second is also met with silence, he calls out a third time, throwing in some insults for good measure.
Before, he wasn't angry — now he is.
Before, the other boat was empty — now there's someone in it.
When you imagine the boats empty you won’t be so angry.