Ox mountain was covered by trees

Ox mountain was covered by trees, but it stands by

a populous city. The people climbed up with their

axes and choppers; they cut the wood down, and

the mountain lost its vegetation.

Yet evenso, there came the night breeze. Rain and

dew moistened it: green shoots began to grow.

Cattle and sheep grazed there. After some time,

the mountain was gaunt and bare. People who see

it barren today imagine it always treeless.

Who knows that the woods were tampered

with, hewn with axes, beaten with clubs? The

trees are lopped, day after day; how will the

mountain flourish?

Confucius said these words: „Hold on and it will

remain. Let go and it disappears. One never knows

the time it comes. One never sees where it has

gone.“ In making his remarks, perhaps he referred

to the heart.