庄子/徐无鬼

I suppose that you are willing to come to see me because you are distressed by the hardships in the moun- tain forests." Xu Wugui said, Since I've come to console you, why should you console me?

If you satiate all your desires and lusts and yield to all your likes and dislikes, then you will hurt your inborn nature.

But if you curb all your desires and lusts and abandon all your likes and dislikes, then you will not enjoy so much pleasure.

Since I shall have to console you, why should you console me?

Marquis Wu looked distracted and made After a while, Xu Wugui said, Let me try to tell you how I judge a dog.

But I do not judge the dogs so well as I judge the horses.

When I judge the horses, if their straight line fits the ruler, their curved part fits the try square, their square part fits the angle square, and their round part fits the compass, then I would say that they are the best horses in the nation.

But they are not up to the best horses in the world.

The best horses in the world are gifted with natural talents.

They seem to be distracted and melancholy, as if they had forgotten their own existence.

They can surpass all the other horses and gallop out of sight in the twinkling of an eye." Marquis Wu was so pleased that he smiled.

I have tried to please my lordship with such pacific books as Book of Poetry, Book of History, Book of Rituals and Book of Music and with such military books as The Golden Tablets and The Six Strategies.

I have made innumerable proposals that led to great successes, but the marquis has never smiled.

What did you speak to him that made him so pleased?" Xu Wugui said, "I told him how to judge the dogs and the horses." Ru Shang said, "Is that so?" Xu Wugui said, "Haven't you ever heard of those who were in exile in the state of Yue?

After a few days from their native land, they were pleased to see their acquaintances; after a couple of weeks from their native land, they were pleased to see anyone they had met before; after a year from their native land, they were pleased to see anyone who looked like their countryman.

The longer they were away from their native land, the more deeply they desire to meet their countrymen -isn't that true?

The man who fled to the wilderness, where tall weeds blocked the paths haunted by the weasels, and dwelt in the open for a long time would brighten up when he heard the sound of footsteps.

It must have been a long time since the marquis heard people talk- ing to him in sincere language." When Xu Wugui went to see Marquis Wu of Wei, the latter said, "You have lived in the deep mountain forests, eating acorns and chestnuts and feeding yourself on onions and leeks.

You have been away from me for a long time.

Are you old now?

Do you want to taste the meat and wine here or do you want to bring some blessing to my state?

Xuu Wugui said, I was born poor and I have never wanted to enjoy your meat and wine.

Marquis Wu said, What?

You've come here to show your sympathy Xuu Wugui answered, I've come here to show my sympathy for your Marquis Wu said, What do you mean?