Opportunistic relationships can hardly be kept constant. The acquaintance of honorable people, even at a distance, does not add flowers in times of warmth and does not change its leaves in times of cold: it continues unfading through the four seasons, becomes increasingly stable as it passes through ease and danger.
Zhuge Liang (Kong Ming) Taoist name- Sleeping Dragon
The Way of the General
Translated by Thomas Cleary
Zhuge Liang’s life motto about opportunistic relationships gives us insight about the constant changes of people’s hearts who use relationships for only profit and gain. Opportunistic relationships are unhealthy relationships. You never know when people will change their hearts and go against you through those kinds of relationships. You can hardly keep track of yourself and others because of it.
You should be seeking relationships with honorable people that are unfading throughout time. Whether in times of good fortune or times of peril they will be by your side without ever changing their hearts. Those relationships become increasingly stable and grow deeper throughout time. Those are the relationships worth seeking. Truly a wise life motto.
