From: Xunzi's "Xunzi King System" during the Warring States Period, which is a famous saying of Xunzi.

Meaning: Water can float the boat or capsize it.

Original text: The king is a boat; the common man is water; water carries the boat, and water overturns the boat.

Translation: The monarch is like a boat, while the people are like water. Water can hold the boat or overturn it.

Extended information:

Historical examples of "Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it"

1. In the Huang Chao uprising, the people initially supported his overthrow. The ruling class of the late Tang Dynasty, but after Huang Chao invaded Chang'an, he burned, killed, looted, and was abandoned by the people.

2. Wang Mang usurped power. When Wang Mang was the Grand Sima, he was very supported by the court and the people. However, when he usurped power and became emperor, he was opposed by scholars and common people, and he was quickly defeated.

3. Li Zicheng revolted. Li Zicheng overthrew the Ming Dynasty under the banner of "No food will be paid when the king comes". However, the rebel army was corrupted internally, corrupted and robbed the people, and was overthrown again.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Water can carry a boat and also capsize it