A strong nation, like a strong person, can afford to be gentle, firm, thoughtful, and restrained. It can afford to extend a helping hand to others. It's a weak nation, like a weak person, that must behave with bluster and boasting and rashness and other signs of insecurity.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- True strength allows for gentleness and restraint, while weakness often masks itself with aggression and bluster.
- In plain terms
- Strong nations and people are kind and calm; weak ones act loud and insecure.
- What can you take from it?
- Restraint and kindness are signs of real strength.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- What does true strength look like?
- When is restraint hard?
Another view
Sometimes firmness requires actions that look aggressive.
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