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A keeper of monkeys, replied Tzลญ Ch'i, said with regard to their rations of chestnuts that each monkey was to have three in the morning and four at night. But at this the monkeys were very angry, so the keeper said they might have four in the morning and three at night, with which arrangement they were all well pleased. The actual number of the chestnuts remained the same, but there was an adaptation to the likes and dislikes of those concerned.
Source Chuang Tzu, chapter 2, ยง7 ยท ๐ Read the full passage
โจ To meditate on today
According to Chuang Tzu, the monkey keeper gives the same amount of food but changes the order to please his monkeys: instead of arguing to be right, he looks for what brings peace. Today, in a disagreement of little importance, give way on the form, keep only what is essential, and let everyone leave content.
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