When people fight for personal gain, conflict and resentment soon follow. Those grudges grow, weaving countless disputes that burden society and the heart alike. Yet there is a simple way to avoid such trouble — through tolerance and patience. By staying humble, respectful, and willing to let small things pass, you can step out of the whirlpool of strife before it drags you in.
The old saying “Harmony brings prosperity” may sound familiar, but its truth is profound. Many who understand it have found peace — and even unexpected fortune — in moments that could have turned into disaster.
A quarrel over a broken plate
In the 1980s, while working at a research institute in Xining, Qinghai Province, I used to buy breakfast from a small snack shop near my office. One morning, I accidentally dropped the plate holding my fried dough sticks, shattering it. The shop owner, a burly man with a fierce face, flew into a rage.
I quickly apologized and explained it was an accident, offering 2 yuan as compensation. At the time, that amount could easily buy several new plates. But the owner, who had a rough background, refused to accept it. He demanded 10 yuan before letting me go.
Onlookers began to mutter indignantly, and someone eventually stepped in to mediate. After much persuasion, I paid 5 yuan to settle the matter and left. Two days later, news spread that the same man had gotten into another argument with a group of local thugs. This time, knives were drawn, and he was left permanently disabled.
Had I fought back that day, I might have become tangled in the same fate. Sometimes, patience doesn’t just bring peace — it saves you from unseen harm.
A small act of kindness in Tokyo
Years later, I witnessed a different kind of reaction in a fast-food restaurant in Tokyo. A woman carrying a child ordered a bowl of noodles. Before she could pick up her chopsticks, her child accidentally knocked the bowl to the floor, breaking it and spilling the hot soup everywhere.
The mother immediately apologized and opened her wallet to pay for the damage. But the shop owner, also a middle-aged woman, smiled gently and said: “It’s all right. The child didn’t mean it. You don’t need to pay — I’ll bring you another bowl.”
The mother was deeply moved and thanked her again and again. Later, she told her family and friends about the restaurant, and soon the once-quiet eatery began to thrive. What began as a broken bowl turned into a blessing — proof that kindness can bring lasting good fortune.
The pawnshop owner’s wisdom
In ancient China, there lived a man named You Weng, who owned a pawnshop. One winter near the end of the year, he heard shouting outside and went to see what was happening. His clerk was arguing with a poor neighbor who had pawned his clothes and now wanted them back without paying.
The clerk complained bitterly: “He wants his things back for nothing, and when I refused, he started cursing me!” The neighbor sat stubbornly at the doorway, refusing to leave.
You Weng calmly said: “You’re only trying to make it through the New Year, aren’t you? Is such a small matter worth this anger?” He then told his clerk to fetch the man’s pawned items — four or five pieces of clothing and mosquito nets. Picking up a cotton jacket, he said: “This one will keep you warm.” Then he handed over an outer robe. “And this is for New Year’s visits. Leave the rest here until you can redeem them.”
Ashamed, the man took the garments and left quietly. That night, he was found dead in another household. It turned out he had long been overwhelmed by debt and despair. He had taken poison, planning to die after provoking a rich man into paying him “compensation” for his family’s survival. Because You Weng met anger with patience, he escaped that misfortune — while another family, drawn into the man’s final scheme, was forced to bear the loss.
Later, someone asked why You Weng tolerated the man instead of confronting him. He replied: “Those who pick fights for no reason must think they have something to rely on. If we can’t endure small slights, disaster will soon follow.”
The strength to rise above conflict
Tolerance is not weakness — it is wisdom. To meet anger with calm, and offense with understanding, is to stay beyond the reach of misfortune. Even without prophetic insight, a person who acts with patience and compassion naturally finds peace and safety.
Translated by Eva
Follow us on X, Facebook, or Pinterest
