XXXIII. (The trigram representing) the sky and below it that for a mountain form Thun. The superior man, in accordance with this, keeps small men at a distance, not by showing that he hates them, but by his own dignified gravity.

1 There is 'the perilousness of the position shown by the retiring tail:' but if 'no movement' be made, what disaster can there be?

2 'He holds it as by (a thong from the hide of) a yellow ox:' his purpose is firm.

3 'The peril connected with the case of one retiring, though bound,' is due to the (consequent) distress and exhaustion. 'If he were (to deal as in) nourishing a servant or concubine, it would be fortunate for him:' but a great affair cannot be dealt with in this way.

4 'A superior man retires notwithstanding his likings; a small man cannot attain to this.'

5 'He retires in an admirable way, and with firm correctness there will be good fortune:' this is due to the rectitude of his purpose.

6 'He retires in a noble way, and his doing so will be advantageous in every respect:' he who does so has no doubts about his course.