In the opening lines of “A Tale of Two Cities,” Charles Dickens contrasts the suffering endured during the French Revolution with visions of hope: “It was the best of times; it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, …” Dickens’ introduction reflects the ancient Chinese concept of yin and yang, that is, the paradox that opposing yet complementary forces govern life, that in stillness there is movement.
