譯文:有人在過江時(shí),見一個(gè)人正拉著一個(gè)小孩要把他投到江里去,小孩啼哭。過江的人忙問這樣做的原因,那個(gè)人說:“他的父親擅長游泳?!彼赣H雖然擅長游泳,兒子難道就一定擅長游泳嗎?用這樣的方法處理事物,一定是荒謬的。
這個(gè)故事告訴人們:一是本領(lǐng)的獲得要靠自己,而不能靠先天的遺傳。二是處理事情要從實(shí)際出發(fā),對(duì)象不同,處理的方法也要有所不同,千古無同局。
《古代寓言·游泳名手的兒子》
有過于江上者,見人方引嬰兒,而欲投之江中,嬰兒啼。
人問其故。
曰:“此其父善游?!?br />——其父雖善游,其子豈遽善游哉!
——《呂氏春秋》
The Son of a Good Swimmer
A man walking along the river bank saw someone about to throw a small boy into the water. The child was screaming with terror.
"Why do you want to throw that child into the water?" asked the passer-by.
"His father is a good swimmer," was the answer.
But it does not follow that the son of a good swimmer can swim.
The Discourses of Lü Buwei
(Lü Shi Chun Qiu)