Meaning:
The proverb "Every flow must have its ebb" expresses the idea that everything
in life has its ups and downs. It means that just as the tide rises and falls
in a cyclical pattern, so too do good and bad times come and go. It serves as
a reminder that challenges and setbacks are inevitable, even during the best
of times, and that there is always hope for better days ahead.
Background:
The etymology of this proverb can be traced back to the observation of the
natural phenomenon of the tides. The word "flow" in the proverb refers to the
rising tide, when the water level is increasing. On the other hand, "ebb"
refers to the falling tide, when the water level recedes. The ebb and flow of
the tides have long been associated with the concept of cycles and
fluctuations in life. Overall, this proverb encourages us to embrace the
inevitable ups and downs of life, and to understand that both good and bad
times are temporary. It emphasizes the importance of resilience and optimism
in navigating through life's challenges, while also appreciating and making
the most of the moments of joy and success.
- englishdaily626.com [edited]
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And vice versa. To a Chinese, this is as natural as breathing in and out. Before
imported models, e.g., karma, dialectics, etc., we had the yin and yang, one at
the heels of the other.
After an ebb, we know a flow is coming and can often guesstimate its size.
Problem is we cannot be 100% sure of the latter and in the rare cases where we
are wrong, say in tsunami hits, the result can be devastating.
These are called tail (think of probability distributions) or Black Swan events,
rare but crucial. In many fields, however, they have been ignored, to this day,
so that data would agree nicely with theories, like fitting humans to the bed of
Procrustes.
