南辕北辙

One day, Ji Liang went to see the King of Wei and reported: "When I was coming here, I saw a man on the road driving a horse carage north in great haste.

 

"I asked him: 'Where are you going in such haste?'

 

"He replied: 'I am going to the State of Chu.'

 

"I said: 'If you want to go to the State of Chu, you should go south. Why are you going north? You are going the wrong way!'

 

"He said: 'My horse is big and strong. It can run as fast as flying. It doesn't matter to run a little more.'

 

"I told him: 'Though your horse is good, you are going in the wrong direction.'

 

"He said: 'It doesn't matter. I have lots of money.'

 

"I told him again: 'Though you have lots of money, this is not the road to the State of Chu.'

 

"He said: 'It doesn't matter. My driver is good and strong.'

 

"Finally I told him: 'Though your driver is good and strong, this is not the road to the State of Chu."

 

The King of Wei blurted¹ out: "Alas², this man is too obstinate³. He doesn't realize that if his direction is wrong, the better he is equipped, the farther he would be away from his destination."

 

一天，季梁去见魏王，报告说：“这次，我来的时候，在路上看到一个人，驾着马车往北走，走得很急。

 

“我问他:‘走得这么急，你要去哪儿？’

 

“他回答说:‘我要到楚国去。’

 

“我说:‘你去楚国，应该朝南走，怎么往北呢？你走错了！’

 

“他说:‘我的马很好，又高又大，跑起来跟飞一样快。多跑点儿没关系。’

 

“我告诉他:‘你的马虽然好，可是去楚国的方向不对呀！’

 

“他说:‘没关系，我有很多钱。’

 

“我又告诉他:‘你钱虽然多，但是这不是去楚国的路呀！’

 

“他说:‘没关系，我的车夫好，他身强力壮。’

 

“最后我告诉他:‘你的车夫虽然好，但是这不是去楚国的路呀！’

 

魏王脱口说道:“唉！这个人真固执。他不知道方向错了，条件越好，离开目的地就越远。”

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