Chinese Wisdom Stories · Volume 1 · Story guide

赵简子放鸟Zhao Jianzi Frees the Birds

zhào jiǎn zǐ fàng niǎo

HSK4+典故

A lord releases captured birds on New Year's morning to show kindness. A guest points out that the birds were captured precisely because people knew the lord would release them.

Where this story comes from

《列子·说符》

Liezi, chapter “Shuo Fu”

The story

赵简子在节日里把捕来的鸟放回天空,觉得自己做了善事。旁边的客人却看见另一件事:百姓知道国君喜欢放生,就会更努力地去捕鸟。善意的举动,为什么会带来更多的伤害?故事把这个问题留给读者自己回答。

What this story teaches

善意如果不考虑后果,也会带来伤害;做善事要看真实效果,不能只看见自己的善意。

Good intentions can cause harm when they ignore consequences — kindness must be judged by its real effect.

How to use it

帮助别人不能只凭好心,要看他真正需要什么,不然就会像赵简子放鸟一样,好心办了坏事。

bāng zhù bié rén bù néng zhǐ píng hǎo xīn , yào kàn tā zhēn zhèng xū yào shén me , bù rán jiù huì xiàng zhào jiǎn zǐ fàng niǎo yī yàng , hǎo xīn bàn le huài shì 。

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Part of the Chinese Wisdom Stories series