"Water can carry a boat and also overturn it." This sentence was said by Xunzi. This sentence means that rulers are like boats and people are like water. Water can not only allow boats to sail safely, but also can Overturning the boat, swallowing it, and sinking it in the water means that if things are used properly, they will be beneficial, and vice versa. .

Source: "Xunzi. Duke Ai" by Xunzi in the Warring States Period: "Confucius said: "Qiu Qiu heard it: 'The king is a boat; the common man is water. Water carries the boat, water overturns the boat. ’ If you think of danger in this way, how can the danger never come? ""

Translation: Confucius said: "And I have heard this saying: 'The monarch is like a boat; the people are like water. Water can carry a boat, and water can capsize a boat.' You think about it from this aspect. If you think about danger, how can the sense of danger not come? ”

Extended information

Poetry related to “Water can carry a boat but also capsize it”:

Broken Zhenzi·River Water? Author: Zuo Heshui

When the dam is broken, it is easy to flood the mountain, but when the cliff is broken, it is difficult to collect it. ?

It always displays tranquility and connects all things, but also has violent waves rolling into ravines. ?

The boat that carries it also capsizes.

Translation: The water of a river can be straight or curved, moving or still. When it is powerful, it can overturn mountains and seas, move mountains and create land, and cascade thousands of miles; when it is angry, it can tear cliffs and dams, destroy fields and houses, and it is out of control. .

When the wind between heaven and earth is calm, rivers are quiet and gentle, silently providing services to human life, and becoming convenient and cheap transportation carriers for all things; but once the wind and clouds rise, they will stir up violent waves.

People need to understand that water can carry a ship and it can also capsize a ship.