I Ching

The situation calls for confronting a tenacious knot and cutting through it.  Somehow, the way to harmony and unity is blocked or frustrated – perhaps by a tangle of deceit or corruption.  Like Alexander the Great cutting the Gordian knot, take decisive action and you will meet with good fortune.  Don’t be afraid to shake things up a bit.  The ability to take corrective measures, when they are needed, is an essential trait of true leadership.

But those who bring discipline to bear must, above all, be honest – with others, and with themselves.  Honesty is the hallmark of the strong and self-confident.  The successful person masters the art of honesty much as a swordsman masters fencing.  When lies, delusions and game-playing are getting in the way of teamwork, a swift sword of honest action, perhaps even punishment, must be wielded to protect one’s integrity and values.  Decisiveness with integrity at a time like this brings good fortune.

Though your actions be vigorous, they must not be hasty, severe, or arbitrary.  Be sure to carefully consider all the circumstances.  In the case of a serious disruption of relations or events, you must forgive, but not forget – at least until a person has made reparation for his mistakes.  If corrective action is necessary, make certain that it fits the crime.  When rules have become slack and useless, only through the institution of clear and swift penalties can their effectiveness be restored.

In situations where serious issues of justice are at stake, keep careful records, and do not hesitate to go public with the truth.

1. A single, first offense is not cause for condemnation and stiff punishment, but some form of corrective action is needed in order to prevent further transgressions.  If you have been wronged by someone, confront the matter openly, but without hostility.
2. The best punishment is one which fries a man in his own grease.  The true criminal must be punished for his crimes, and all serious violations of decency dealt with directly.  There is an inclination to go too far in such situations, as personal indignation muddies the waters.  Even so, punishment is warranted.
3. In trying to cut through a knotty old problem, you may have gotten your saw stuck in the wood.  Old, hard feelings may still attach themselves to the problem, and can kick back at you if you attempt to right past wrongs.  It is not your responsibility to rewrite the past; since you cannot solve the problem, it is your responsibility now to walk away from the whole situation, before it gets any worse.
4. When facing great obstacles or powerful opponents, never overreach your authority and never outstrip your resources.  Move ahead with caution, and harden your resolve.  Persevering with difficult situations in the end brings good fortune.  As when biting through a tough carrot, sharp teeth may be required.
5. This change points to a very difficult situation.  All decent people have a tendency toward leniency, but when the facts of a situation are clear-cut, and a grievous wrong has been committed, strong corrective action must be taken.  Such action may take the form of punishment to those who have committed the offense.  In such cases, bear in mind that the first job of the administrator of punishment is to see that the punishment be effective.  In other words, that it serve its highest intended purpose – to cause the offenders to understand the wrong they have committed, and prevent them from committing it in the future.
6. Those who believe that “small sins do no harm” are often sliding on the slippery slope to ruin.  When someone turns a deaf ear to legitimate grievances in small matters, he or she may acquiring guilt at such a pace that there will be no alternative but to take stern measures against them.