An old crab grew restless. Finding himself
stiff all over, he knew it was time for him to moult his
shell.
He dashed here and there in search of a cave to hide. He was going
to block up the mouth of the cave so that he could moult in secret.
He knew it would be very dangerous to shed his shell in the open
because, with his new shell still being soft, he might be eaten up
by other crabs. This fear was not groundless for he himself had
really seen it happen to other moulting crabs.
The old crab kept moving about in a hurry.
A nearby crab asked, 'Hey, brother, what's the rush?'
I am going to moult, answered the old crab.
Wouldn't it be all right to moult right here? I could help you out
with it.
How horrible that would be!
You mean while you're not scared of other things in the cave you're
scared of your own kind?
No, I'm not scared of my own kind.
Then what are you scared of?
Nothing but being eaten up by you.
National
Crisis vs Heroic Nation
The course of history is never smooth. It is
sometimes beset with difficulties and obstacles and nothing short
of a heroic spirit can help surmount them. A mighty long river sometimes flows
through a broad section with plains lying boundless on either side,
its waters rolling on non-stop for thousands upon thousands of
miles. Sometimes it comes up against a narrow section flanked by
high mountains and steep cliffs, winding through a course with many
a perilous twist and turn. A nation, in the course of its
development, fares likewise. The historical course of man's life
is just like a journey. A traveller on a long journey passes
through now a broad, level plain, now a rugged, hazardous road.
While a determined traveller cheerfully continues his journey upon
reaching a safe and smooth place, he finds it still more
fascinating to come to a rugged place, the enormously magnificent
spectacle of which, he feels, is better able to generate in him a
wonderful sensation of adventure. The Chinese nation is now confronted
with a rugged and dangerous section of its historical course.
Nevertheless, there is also in this section a spectacle of enormous
magnificence that inspires in us passers-by a delightful sensation
of splendor. And this delightful sensation, however, can only be
shared by those with a heroic spirit. The Yangtse River and the Yellow River are
both symbolic of our national spirit. The two mighty rivers
negotiate deserts and gorges until their turbid torrents surge
forward with irresistible force. The present national crisis can
never obstruct the advance of our national life. Let us brace up
our spirits and march through this rugged, dangerous road to the
tune of our solemn, stirring songs. The greatest joy of life, mind
you, is to build up our country during its most difficult
days.