"Touching fish” is a Chinese proverb which says “muddy waters make it easier to catch fish”. What this means is that, For one’s personal gain they should take advantage of times of crisis eg. Workers in China being lax in their work because their supervisors are no longer focused on them but rather the Covid crisis and it’s effect on the company. This proverb prioritizes maximizing the opportunity to do the barest minimum.

New Optimism - the narrative that human history is a story of constant improvement, and that we should be optimistic about the future of the human condition. Supporters of new optimism point to evidence of progress in areas such as poverty reduction, technological advancement, and human rights as examples of constant improvement. New Optimists suggest that this progress is due to increased globalization, free markets, scientific advancement, capitalism, liberalization, and collaboration among nations and individuals.