Leave it Alone!
Don't Poke the Tiger - Leave Well Enough Alone
Sophia: Mao, you once cautioned, “In waking a tiger, use a long stick.” Tell me, what do you mean by this metaphorical tiger?
Mao: Sophia, the tiger represents forces that are powerful, unpredictable, and dangerous. To provoke recklessly is to invite chaos. One must act with strategy, distance, and respect for its strength.
In waking a tiger, use a long stick.
— Mao Zedong (1893-1976)
Sophia: So wisdom lies not in brute courage or impulse, but in measured engagement — knowing when to act, when to wait, and how to respect forces beyond our control.
Mao: Precisely. Many rush in, thinking bravery alone suffices. But the tiger is not defeated by courage; it is defeated or controlled only by strategy and care. A long stick keeps one safe while allowing influence.
Sophia: And what of those who see danger yet insist on interference? Is it ever justified to poke the tiger?
Mao: Only when necessity demands, and even then, with caution. Recklessness brings destruction; patience, observation, and precise action bring outcomes aligned with intention.
Sophia: Then the lesson is clear: leave well enough alone when the danger exceeds your means, but act wisely when the situation requires it. Power, like the tiger, respects skill more than audacity.
Mao: Yes. The long stick is both shield and tool — an emblem of prudence, patience, and the discipline to navigate the wildness of the world.
Sophia: So let us remember: to awaken the tiger without respect is folly, but to approach it with wisdom, awareness, and distance transforms risk into mastery.
They sit quietly, imagining the tiger in the shadows — a reminder that not all forces are to be challenged directly, and that patience and strategy often triumph where impulsiveness fails.
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Heraclitus
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