" ... to cling to something, to depend or rest on something, brightness. a dark line clings ... fire has no definite form but clings to the burning object and thus is bright. as water pours down from heaven, so fire flames up from the earth. li stands for nature in its radiance.

 

perseverance furthers. a luminous thing giving out light must have within itself something that perseveres; otherwise it will in time burn itself out. everything that gives light is dependent on something to which it clings, in order that it may continue to shine.

 

the great man continues the work of nature in the human world. through the clarity of his nature he causes the light to spread farther and farther and to penetrate the nature of man ever more deeply."

 

~ i ching hexagram 30