Buying shoes
A man of the state of Zheng wanted to buy a pair of shoes. He measured his foot and put the measurement on a chair. When he set out for the market he forgot to bring it along. It was after he had found the pair he wanted that this occurred to him.
I forgot the measurement, said he.
He went home to get it but when he returned the market had broken up and he did not get his shoes after all.
Why didn't you try on the shoes with your feet?
He was asked.
I 'd rather trust the measurement than trust myself. (《Hanfeizi》)
鄭人買履
從前,鄭國有個人想買雙鞋.他量好了自己腳的尺碼,把它放在了椅子上.可當(dāng)他趕往市集時,卻忘了帶量好的尺碼.他要買鞋時,才想了起來.
他說："我忘帶尺碼了."
他回家去取量好的尺碼. 等他趕回來時,市集已經(jīng)關(guān)了,他還是沒能買到鞋.
有人問："為什么不用你自己的腳去量鞋子呢?"
他說："我寧愿相信尺碼也不相信我自己的腳." (《韓非子》)