Bedtime story
Once upon a time in the state of Chu, there was a man who sold weapons at the market. One day, he proudly displayed his shield and told the crowd,
“This shield is the strongest in the world! Nothing can pierce it, no matter how sharp or powerful it is.”
Then, he picked up a spear and said just as boastfully,
“And this spear is the sharpest in the world! Nothing can withstand it—any shield, no matter how strong, would be pierced in an instant!”
He was very pleased with himself and loudly announced:
“Come and see! The strongest shield and the sharpest spear in the world!”
A curious bystander then asked:
“What would happen if you tried to pierce this shield with your spear?”
The seller was speechless. Everyone around him paused for a moment… and then burst into laughter. Embarrassed, the man had no choice but to leave, carrying his shield and spear.
Moral of the story
This story illustrates the idea of a self-contradiction.
- The seller claimed that his shield could not be pierced and that his spear could pierce anything.
- If you try to combine these two claims, they cannot both be true—so the seller’s boasting contradicts itself.
The lesson: Don’t make statements that contradict each other.
- In other words, think carefully about what you say and ensure it’s consistent, or else people will see through your words.
