Endure: 100 Biblical Principles for Dealing with People (Illustrated Edition)

Author: Zhang Yi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: 【Practical Examples】Anger Hurts the Body, Anger Destroys the Nation
In the turbulent and ever-changing world, one should possess a flexible mindset and methods, remain steady as Mount Tai, and calm as still water—only then can one be clear-sighted. Impulsive and reckless individuals, driven by personal gain, may resort to violence. Unaware that seeking temporary relief will only bring more harm to themselves, they act without considering the consequences. During the Three Kingdoms period, the states of Wei, Shu, and Wu constantly engaged in wars. At that time, Wei was the most powerful, and both Shu and Wu focused their efforts on countering Wei. However, after Guan Yu's careless loss of Jingzhou and his subsequent defeat and death at the hands of Wu, Liu Bei flew into a rage. He decided to launch an attack on Eastern Wu, ignoring the counsel of his ministers, which was indeed a case of losing the bigger picture for the sake of a minor issue.
As Zhao Yun had said at the time, the traitor to the nation was Cao Cao, not Sun Quan. If they were to first eliminate the Wei state, Wu would naturally submit. Although Cao Cao was already dead, his son Cao Pi had usurped the throne. They should have seized the opportunity when public dissatisfaction was high to attack the Central Plains, rather than ignoring Wei and first going to war with Wu. Once Shu and Wu were at war, they would lose a golden opportunity to attack Wei.
Zhuge Liang also submitted a memorial to advise Liu Bei, stating that he believed Wu had tricked their way into losing Jingzhou and that Guan Yu's death was a major disaster for Shu, a significant loss for the nation, and deeply tragic. However, he argued that the true culprit behind the fall of the Han Dynasty was Cao Cao, not Sun Quan. He believed that if they first eliminated the Wei regime, Wu would naturally submit. He hoped Liu Bei would heed the ministers' advice, train his troops, and prepare Shu to conquer the world, rather than attacking Wu at this time.
However, after reading the memorial, Liu Bei threw it to the ground, declaring that he had already decided to attack Wu and that his ministers no longer needed to advise him. He insisted on leading his army eastward, ultimately leading to their defeat. This example shows that in critical moments, one must not let anger cloud one's judgment, or else they will pay a heavy price.
【Expert Commentary】The art of enduring anger requires one to be grounded and humble, to remain calm and composed when facing challenges, to think and analyze thoroughly before acting, rather than acting hastily with lofty ideals but poor execution, ending up with nothing in the end. Those who achieve great success in the world can overcome their tendencies toward impulsivity and restlessness. If one is easily distracted and cannot focus, it will be difficult to accomplish great things. Frivolity, impatience, and sudden impulses benefit neither others nor oneself. While it is indeed difficult to tolerate anger in the heart, with perseverance and unwavering belief, how could one let fleeting anger overwhelm one's mind?
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