“夏则资皮，冬则资纱，旱则资船，水则资车” - 范蠡

[Stocker]

范蠡 left a letter to 文种 . 文种 was also a lieutenant to 勾践 .

[CityFarmer]

范蠡 left a letter to 文种 . 文种 was also a lieutenant to 勾践 .

I see. Apologies for misunderstood the statement.

[Stocker]

No worries, we are here to share and learn from each other.
Many thanks for creating this thread, it brings me back to memory lane .

[Behappyalways]

you might like this

http://baike.baidu.com/view/157716.htm

http://kejiao.cntv.cn/C27240/classpage/v...0435.shtml

http://kejiao.cntv.cn/C27240/classpage/v...0745.shtml

http://investideas.net/forum/viewtopic.p...9&start=40

[specuvestor]

Interestingly, 范蠡 was a FT.

范蠡是中国历史上知名度很高的人物。2500年前，他背叛楚国，投奔越国，辅助越王勾践，最终灭了吴国，替卧薪尝胆的勾践报仇雪耻。范蠡之所以背叛楚国，是因为当时的楚国不允许非贵族当官。

and... he left because..
范蠡因为担心勾践会卸磨杀驴而离开了越国。

By your definition then many big names from 商鞅, 孙子 to 吕不韦 all are FTs

Jokes aside the main issue is where the FT vested interest lies that's critical.

[Greenrookie]

Interestingly, 范蠡 was a FT.

范蠡是中国历史上知名度很高的人物。2500年前，他背叛楚国，投奔越国，辅助越王勾践，最终灭了吴国，替卧薪尝胆的勾践报仇雪耻。范蠡之所以背叛楚国，是因为当时的楚国不允许非贵族当官。

and... he left because..
范蠡因为担心勾践会卸磨杀驴而离开了越国。

By your definition then many big names from 商鞅, 孙子 to 吕不韦 all are FTs

Jokes aside the main issue is where the FT vested interest lies that's critical.

Talking about FTs, I am quite amazed at how easy it is, in ancient time, to pledge loyalty to a country.

Lets not talk about top talents like 商鞅, 孙子 and the likes, even cheap labor like soldiers, they used surrendered soldiers for wars, what will these soldiers fight for, why?

Maybe those in the past just want security of 3 meals, doesn't matter identity, country or who the ruler is...

[kagemusha]

those soldiers probably don't have a choice at all.
They are drafted. Someone in the family has to contribute a male member to the country for war.
If not, most likely got killed.

As for surrendered soldiers, I remember a scene in some Roman show, that surrendered soldiers are armed and put in the front of the army.
A spear/pike points behind them, so they can only move forward. if they stop, they kenna poke behind and killed, so no choice and only move forward, at least you have a chance, albeit small one.
Would not be surprise that this happen in ancient China as well.

[CityFarmer]

得时无怠， if you get an opportunity, don't be lazy
时不再来， the opportunity may not come again
天予不取， if heaven give you the chance and you don't take it
反为之灾 you might be punished for it.

Exactly. Thanks AlphaQuant. You can definitely translate more accurately than mine.

After a first round of reading on Mr. Buffett's latest shareholder letter, I recalled the reason why I am interested on the following

"得时无怠, 时不再来, 天予不取, 反为之灾"

I have been an avid follower of Mr. Buffett (who isn't here ), and his famous "swing the bat only if you want to" theory. Soon after following it, I noticed that I had taken it more as an easy excuse for inaction i.e. I didn't swing the bat, even for the best pitch in my favour, and still feel comfortable with it.

Mr. Buffett did two elephant deals, with total of $18 billion. This is on top of other 25 "bolt-on" acquisitions, with total of $3.1 billion. All these were done when S&P performance was 32.4% with dividend, or over a bull year.

范蠡 completed the whole picture. It is definitely right not to swing the bat, if it is no opportunity around. It is also definitely harmful to hesitate when opportunity arises.

Just to share a thought of mine. Thank you