Is the Sun farther away in the morning? An Argument about the Sun

When Confucius was traveling in the eastern part of the country, he came upon two children hot in argument, so he asked them to tell him what it was all about.

"I think," said one child, "that the sun is near to us at daybreak and far away from us at noon."

The other contended that the sun was far away at dawn and nearby at midday.

"When the sun first appears," said one child, "it is as big as the canopy of a carriage, but at noon it is only the size of a plate or a bowl. Well, isn't it true that objects far away seem smaller while those nearby seem bigger?"

"When the sun comes out," pointed out the other, "it is very cool, but at midday it is as hot as putting your hand in boiling water. Well, isn't it true that what is nearer to us is hotter and what is farther off is cooler?"

Confucius was unable to settle the matter for them.

The two children laughed at him, "Who says you are a learned man?"

Pot Calling Kettle Black

Mencius said to King Hui, "Let's use fightings of a battle as an exemple. After a fierce engagement, the soldiers threw down their armnament and retreated.

Some soldiers retreated 50 paces; other 100 paces. Those retreating 50 paces laughed at those who retreated 100 paces. What do you say?"

The King replied, "No. Even if one does not retreat 100 paces, it is retreating nevertheless."

Lack of a Business Plan

A man of the state of Lu was skilled in weaving hemp sandals while his wife was good at weaving fine white silk. The couple thought of moving to the state of Yue in the south.

"You will be in dire straits," he was told.

"Why?" asked the man of Lu.

"Hemp sandals are for walking but the people of Yue walk barefoot. White silk is for making hats but the people of Yue go about bare-headed. If you go to a place where your skills are utterly useless, how can you hope to do well?"

Flute Player

Whenever King Xuan of Qi had musicians playing the yu, a wind instrument with reed, he will have three hundred of them playing together. Knowing this, a student from Nanguo applied for a job. The king accepted and paid him the same salary as the others.

After the death of King Xuan, King Min became the ruler of Qi. He liked to have the musicians playing solo. the student from Nanguo fled.

It Took Three Years to Make a Leaf

In the state of Song an artisan carved a mulberry leaf out of ivory for the King. It took him three years. The ivory leaf has a pleasing shape, delicate veins, fine hairs and lustrous color. When placed among real mulberry leaves, it was indistinguishable from real ones. The man received a generous stipend from the King for his accomplishment.

Lie Zi heard about this. "If it takes three years for Mother Nature to produce a single leaf," he pointed out, "then there would hardly be any trees with leaves in the world."

Rain Ruined the Wall

There was a rich man from Song, whose house wall was ruined by heavy rain.

His son said, "If we don't repair the wall at once, thieves may come at night." And his neighbor's father told him the same thing.

Sure enough, thieves came at night, and he suffered heavy losses.

The rich man thought his son was very smart; but he was suspicious of his neighbor's father.

Both men said the same thing. Yet he thought well of one and ill of the other person. Knowing the facts is easy. Knowing how to act based on the facts is difficult.

Old Horse Knows the Way

Guan Zhong accompanied Load Huan of Qi in attacking Guzhu. Spring passed and winter returned, and they became lost on the wrong road. Guan Zhong said: "We can use the wisdom of an old horse. Release the old horses and follow them, and thereby reach the right road."