Once, Confucius went to the east to advocate his ideas. On the way he met two children arguing hotly with each other. Confucius asked: "Children, what are you arguing about?" One child said: "I think when the sun rises from the hills, it is nearer to us, and at noon, it is farther from us." The other child argued: "I think when the sun rises from the hills, it is farther from us, but at noon it is nearer to us." One child said: "As is known to all, things far away look smaller and things nearer look bigger. When the sun rises, it is as big as the canopy on a carnage; at noon it is only as big as a plate or a dish. Doesn't this show that when the sun rises, it is nearer to us?" The other child said: "We all know that things nearby make us feel hot, and things far away make us feel cool. When the sun comes out, the air is clear and clean; at noon it is as hot as putting the hand in hot water. Doesn't this show that the sun is nearer to us at noon?" The two children went on arguing endlessly. Confucius was unable to judge who was right. The two children laughed at him: "Who said you are learned and erudite?" 有一次,孔子到东方去游说,途中见到两个小孩正在激烈地争辩着。孔子问:“孩子们,你们在辩论什么呀?” 一个小孩说:“我认为,太阳刚刚出山时,离我们近;到了中午,就离我们远了。” |