A Man Who Was Unable to Accept the Truth

A brown bull stands placidly in a green pasture.
In the darkest times of human history, stories of unexpected compassion can shine like beacons of hope. One such tale unfolded during the German occupation of Belgium in 1941, where the light of humanity shone through the eyes of a bull named Knight. (Image: APPhotograph via Pixabay)

The following story is from the book Han Feizi, based on Han Feizi’s political career during the Warring States Period, about a man who could not accept the truth.

A long time ago in ancient China, a visitor came to the province of Henan. His appearance suggested that he was strong. This man had never seen a yoke, which is a wooden bar or frame by which draft animals, such as oxen or horses, pull a cart or wagon.

The man couldn’t accept the truth

He asked a bystander, pointing at a wooden frame: “What is this?” The man answered that it was a yoke. The stranger looked around and pointed at another object asking the same person: “And what is that?” The person replied that it was also a yoke.

This man had never seen a yoke and was unable to accept the truth.
This man had never seen a yoke, which is a wooden bar or frame by which draft animals, such as oxen or horses, pull a cart or wagon. (Image: pruidiaz via Pixabay)

On hearing this, he became angry and punched the man, shouting: “You must be cheating me! How can two different-looking things have the same name?”

Moral of the story

Sometimes the truth may be too simple to believe and accept; however, before one rejects it impulsively, it’s better to think about it calmly, and then decide. When we refuse to admit a simple truth and become annoyed or irritated, aren’t we as silly as the visitor who inquired about the yokes and could not accept the truth?

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