Formless but full of force

From the 2017 movie, "The Current War"

I'm sure many of you are wondering why am I continuing to discuss about George Westinghouse in a Sun Tzu site. It's because they parallel each other so well. For example, they were both unconcerned about their personal fame. This is an extremely rare trait, especially by those who have risen to power in society, yet refuse to continually seek validation of their power from others. They already know their true worth internally. And because of that rarity, it connects them both despite their separation of time and geography.

​This trait is explained in an excerpt from George Westinghouse's biography by Francis Leupp published in 1918, just four years after Westinghouse's death:

Among the idiosyncrasies of Westinghouse, none was more marked for many years than his hatred of personal publicity. He was glad to have his industries exploited to the fullest extent, for in that direction lay commercial success; but so sedulously did he keep himself in the background that, long after he had become a celebrity in the outside world, he was practically unknown to the mass of his fellow citizens of Pittsburgh. This was because almost their only chance to see him was when he walked from the railway station to his office or from his office back to the station. He refused to let his portrait appear in the newspapers if there were any way of keeping it out. "When I want newspaper advertising," he would say, "I will order it and pay cash."

Another biographer, Jill Jonnes, thinks there are probably no more than 20 photographs of George Westinghouse. Compare this with at least hundreds if not thousands of photographs of Thomas Edison, who was born within a year of Westinghouse's birthdate.

Both biographers Francis Leupp and Henry Prout claimed George Westinghouse left virtually no personal letters (outside of the letters to his wife Marguerite).

Given that George Westinghouse died over 100 years ago, one can understand why he is mostly unknown by the general public today. But those who are educated know he existed. Now imagine if a similar personality lived 2500 years ago who shunned publicity in the same way. Even the educated might claim he never existed, which would be a great shame.

You can even say both Sun Tzu and Westinghouse are so well hidden they are formless. As any diligent student of Sun Tzu knows, being formless is powerful.

​So what is hidden cannot be forgotten when there is so much force behind the personalities of Sun Tzu and Westinghouse. As a movie title goes, they are crouching tigers and they are hidden dragons. They can't be held back. There is an undeniable desire to tell their stories. The power of their lives -- their humanity, wisdom, and accomplishments -- is simply too good to let go. They are national treasures that now belong to the world. ☯