The pliant tree bends before the wind and is not damaged by the storm, but the
rigid tree is often snapped. In the same way it is sometimes better to give
way to the wishes of those in authority than to stand up to them and be
ruined. This is cowardly advice, unless it is assumed that by such action one
lives to fight another day.

##### See also:

* Discretion is the better part of valour
* He that fights and runs away may live to fight another day
* One pair of heels is often worth two pairs of hands