The metaphor does not work here, but there is room for maneuver elsewhere.
From Mao Zedong's article "Strategic Issues in China's Revolutionary War". The original text is as follows: China is a big country - if the east is not bright, the west will be bright; if the south is dark, the north will be. There is no room for maneuver.
This is actually a very objective conclusion. When the enemy is strong and we are weak, the best choice is to conserve our strength and prepare for the best time.
Extended information
Synonyms: Feng Shui turns, this time and that time, thirty years to the east of the river, thirty years to the west of the river.
It is generally used to encourage people. The general idea is that one cannot be sure of outstanding achievements in another aspect. A person's life cannot be smooth sailing. It must be full of ups and downs. As long as you persevere, you will succeed. No matter how hard you work, you will succeed. A little gain encourages us not to be stubborn and to be flexible. Everyone has his own life trajectory and everyone has his own way of doing things. As long as we persevere, we will not worry about finding a way out.