This saying advises against adding pressure to someone who is already in a difficult situation. It emphasizes compassion and patience, reminding people that pushing harder during hardship can break a person or animal rather than motivate them.
Horses were essential in Chinese agriculture and transport, and their care was a matter of practical wisdom. The saying extends this animal-care principle to human relationships, reflecting Confucian values of empathy and restraint.
This saying promotes the value of patience and understanding in leadership and relationships. It signals that a wise person knows when to push and when to hold back, and that cruelty under pressure is both ineffective and morally questionable.
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