There are these four kinds of trees: One itself rotten & weak, but surrounded by strong hardwood ones... One itself of strong hardwood, but surrounded by rotten & weak ones... One itself rotten & weak, and also surrounded by rotten & weak ones... One itself of strong hardwood, and also surrounded by strong hardwood ones...
Schiele: Four Trees
There are four types of persons similar to these four classes of trees: A person himself rotten & weak, but yet surrounded by the strong & good! A person himself strong & good, but yet surrounded by the rotten & weak! A person himself rotten & weak, and also surrounded by the rotten & weak! A person himself strong & good, and also surrounded by the strong & good!
How is the one himself rotten & weak, but yet surrounded by the strong & good? Here one is immoral, and wicked, while his friends are moral men of lovely nature... Thus is a person, who himself is rotten & weak, surrounded by the strong & good, just in the same way as a rotten & weak tree is surrounded by strong & good ones...
How is a person who himself is strong & good, yet surrounded by the rotten & weak? Here one is moral, of lovely nature, but he has friends, who are immoral, & wicked... Thus is a person, who is strong & good surrounded by the rotten & weak, just in the same way as a strong & good tree, is surrounded by many rotten & weak ones...
How is a person who is rotten & weak, and also surrounded by the rotten & weak? Here one is immoral, wicked & evil, who has friends who are immoral, wicked & evil! Thus is a person, who is rotten & weak, and also surrounded by those rotten & weak, just in the same way as a rotten & weak tree, is surrounded by rotten & weak ones...
Finally: How is a person who is strong & good surrounded by the strong & good? Here one is moral of lovely nature, who has similar moral friends of lovely nature... Thus is a person, who is strong & good surrounded by the strong & good, just in the same way as a strong & good tree, is surrounded by strong & good hardcore ones...
These are the four persons comparable to trees existing in this world...
Comment: Discrimination of good & bad groups is a signature sign of Understanding! The rotten and weak may take with them others in their inevitable fall... The strong and good may take with them others in their inevitable rise...
