夫和实生物,同则不继。以他平他谓之和,故能丰长而物归之;若以同裨同,尽乃弃矣。· It is harmony that ensures the prosperous creation of things and it is sameness that may ruin them. By harmony is meant the unity of differences. Only in such conditions can things develop prosperously and can a ruler benefit from them. In contrast,the simple accumulation of things all completely the same leads to great loss.
(Zuo Qiuming [of the Spring and Autumn Period]:Remarks of Monarchs)