This proverb is usually cited for the benefit of the powerful and successful as a reminder or warning that the lowly and aggrieved always get a chance for revenge, so I still consider myself an optimist because, despite being down for so long, I saw in the proverb a message of hope instead of the traditional, cynical interpretation, a promise that persistence is rewarded with success.
This proverb is conventionally understood to mean that even mere marginal competence in the midst of incompetence or inability quickly elevates a man above his peers. I have built my academic renaissance on this principle realizing that inspiration comes from unlikely quarters and believing that every area of inquiry no matter how obscure extends the imaginative reach of the mind.
As practice at imaginative reinterpretation, I've attributed a second, darker meaning to the proverb: if a man can cripple his rivals and retain some advantage, then he'll reign supreme.
This proverb on the wisdom of moving cautiously where better people show trepidation needs no elaboration. I only wish that I had heeded the advice of these words years earlier. I could have avoided many missteps and false starts.