Fables · LT701

Philosophers' Fables

Allegorical fables from philosophical texts conveying profound moral truths.

26works

2dynasties

6authors

Zhou

25 works

1046–221 BCE

  1. Covering One's Ears to Steal a BellLü BuweiDeceiving yourself fools no one else; covering your ears does not silence the world.
  2. The Frog in the WellZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Those with narrow horizons mistake their little well for the whole world.
  3. Pulling Up Seedlings to Help Them GrowMenciusForcing growth against nature's pace destroys what you hoped to nurture.
  4. The Spear and the ShieldHan FeiContradictory claims undo themselves; one boast can refute the other.
  5. Learning to Walk in HandanZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Blind imitation can make you lose the abilities you already had.
  6. Marking the Boat to Find the SwordLü BuweiWhen circumstances change, clinging to old methods leads nowhere.
  7. Buying the Casket, Returning the PearlHan FeiJudging by the wrapping, you may throw away what truly has value.
  8. The Man of Qi Who Feared the Sky Would FallLie YukouWorrying endlessly over what will not happen only torments yourself.
  9. The Man of Zheng Buys ShoesHan FeiTrusting rules over reality makes you miss what is right in front of you.
  10. Waiting by the Stump for a HareHan FeiTreating a lucky accident as a rule, and waiting for it, wastes your real work.
  11. The Mantis Blocking the ChariotZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Overestimating yourself against overwhelming force ends in ruin, however brave you are.
  12. Dong Shi Imitates Xi Shi's FrownZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Copying without understanding what makes something beautiful only backfires.
  13. Mr. Nanguo Fills Out the EnsembleHan FeiFaking competence works only until you must perform alone.
  14. Three in the Morning, Four in the EveningZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Change only the framing, not the substance, and people's feelings change anyway.
  15. Cook Ding Carves the OxZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Follow the inner structure of things, and even hard work becomes effortless.
  16. Half the Effort, Double the ResultMenciusAlign with people's wishes and the right moment, and little effort brings great results.
  17. Double the Effort, Half the ResultMenciusWith the wrong method or direction, even great effort yields little.
  18. Sighing Before the Vast OceanZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Only by seeing something vaster do we realize how small we are.
  19. Fifty Steps Mocking a Hundred StepsMenciusIf you share the same fault, don't mock someone who has more of it.
  20. Not Plucking a Single HairMenciusUtter selfishness that yields nothing cuts you off from everyone else.
  21. One Day of Sun, Ten Days of ColdMenciusEffort that runs hot one day and cold for ten never bears fruit.
  22. Giving Up Eating for Fear of ChokingLü BuweiAbandoning everything over one setback is the greater failure.
  23. Ample Room for the BladeZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Avoid meeting force with force; find the gaps, and you handle things with ease.
  24. Leaving the Altar to Do the Cook's JobZhuangzi (traditionally attributed)Keep to your own role; don't overstep into others' duties.
  25. The Foolish Old Man Moves the MountainsLieziEven when I die, my sons will remain; my sons will have grandsons, and the grandsons sons; sons and grandsons without end, while the mountains grow no higher. Why worry that they cannot be levelled?