Paragraph 177

In plain words

"Say a net has been cast into a pond. Two or three fish are so wily that the net never takes them; these stand for the ever-perfect. But many fish are caught. Some of them try to escape; these stand for the seekers after freedom. Not all of them manage it. One or two thrash about and leap out of the net, and the fishermen cry, 'Look, a huge one got away!' But most of those that are in the net can neither get away nor even try. On the contrary, they take the net in their mouths, burrow into the mud at the bottom of the pond and lie there quietly, thinking, 'We are quite safe now, we are fine.' They do not know that the fisherman will drag them up on the bank. These stand for the bound."