"The drops of rain make a hole in the stone, not by violence, but by oft falling"

Gentle persistence achieves what force cannot. Even the hardest and most enduring materials, such as stone, yield eventually to the persistent, patient touch of countless raindrops. The natural world offers a powerful illustration: each drop seems insignificant on its own, soft and lacking in might, yet over time, their repeated contact gradually wears away the resistance of stone, carving channels and holes where strength alone would have failed or shattered. The lesson is that continual, humble effort succeeds where sudden aggression or brute force might falter.

Applied to human endeavors, this wisdom encourages the cultivation of steady, patient work in pursuit of goals. Great accomplishments seldom result from one grand effort; rather, they emerge from numerous, repeated actions, each perhaps small but consistent over time. The metaphor also speaks to the quiet power of persistence in changing minds, improving skills, overcoming obstacles, or reshaping societies. Just as the rain must fall again and again, so we, too, must apply ourselves day after day.

There is an implicit respect here for the virtues of patience and resilience, as well as an admonition against frustration or the temptation to seek quick, dramatic results. The process may feel slow; progress might, at first, seem invisible or insignificant. Yet, looking back, one sees the cumulative effect: what once appeared unchangeable has been shaped by gradual, unwavering effort.

The image also reflects a harmonious approach to change, one that does not rely on destruction or force, but on the gentler, more enduring power of constancy. This way of working with, rather than against, the currents of time and nature echoes in many aspects of life: education, personal growth, relationships, and even social transformation. Ultimately, enduring change often arises not through aggression or abruptness, but through steadfast, patient effort sustained over days, years, or even lifetimes.