The Anvil and the Hammer (What You Must)

Du mußt steigen oder sinken/Du mußt herrschen und gewinnen,/Oder dienen und verlieren,/Leiden oder triumphieren,/Amboß oder Hammer sein." ("You must either rule and conquer or serve and lose, suffer or triumph, be the anvil or the  hammer") -Goethe

"In real life it is always the anvil that breaks the hammer, never the other way about." -Orwell
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First Thought:
Either way, they are both only relevant when there is something to pound into submission. Whatever that is, don't be it.

Second Thought:
Be the blacksmith

Last Thought:
Don't be a blacksmith