The Mountain Only Moves If You Start Digging
Why an ancient Chinese myth still matters in the fight for change today
Most people avoid big problems. They say, “It’s too hard” or “It won’t change in my lifetime.”
In ancient China, there was a man who refused to think that way.
Yu Gong(Stupid old man) lived in a village blocked by two massive mountains. He was old. He was poor. And he decided to remove both mountains with nothing but a shovel.
His neighbors laughed. They told him he’d die before he made any progress.
Yu Gong didn’t argue. He simply said, “When I die, my children will continue. When they die, their children will continue. The mountains will not grow higher. But we will keep digging.”
The gods, moved by his determination, sent divine help to carry the mountains away.
This isn’t a story about miracles. It’s about the work you do before a miracle becomes possible.
What the story teaches
Perseverance matters more than speed
Lasting change rarely happens fast. Digging a mountain takes time. So does reforming a system, fixing inequality, or building a better community.Each generation has a job
Some problems are too big for one lifetime. That doesn’t excuse inaction. It makes action more urgent.Shared burdens need shared effort
Yu Gong’s problem wasn’t his alone. The mountains blocked the entire village. Every member of a community benefits when someone decides to act.Faith in the outcome drives the work
He had no proof he would see the mountains gone. But he acted as if success was inevitable. That’s real optimism.
Why it matters now
Today, “the mountains” are everywhere — climate change, poverty, corruption, war, inequality. People shrug and say, “It’s too big.” But every major shift in history began with someone who ignored that and started digging.
China’s poverty alleviation campaign that lifted hundreds of millions out of extreme poverty was one mountain. Labor organizing in U.S. warehouses today is another. Neither started with a miracle. They started with people who refused to give up.
And this is exactly what I am doing here. Most of my talks are about class and class struggle. They are serious topics, not silly videos made for quick laughs. That means growth is slow. I gain one follower at a time, not thousands overnight. I understand that many people lose interest when the conversation is heavy, but I also see that those who stay are steady and committed.
So I will keep going. I will keep posting. I will keep building one person at a time, step by step. Someday, we will be there. The mountain will move.
And if you value this work, consider subscribing or upgrading your subscription. With your support, I’ll keep digging with more confidence and more strength.