Two Short Stories

Sometimes our attitudes to the same thing change because our different feelings to various people.

In ancient China, there was a kingdom named Wei. The king had a concubine named Mizi. The king loved her very much. One day, Mizi’s mother got very ill suddenly, her family members noticed her. Because she worried a lot about her mother, so she ordered a carriage to pick up her mother in the name of the king. Under the laws of kingdom Wei: He who uses the carriage of the king without the king’s permit will be punished. But after kingdom Wei knew this thing, he not only exempted Mizi’s crime, but praised her: what a good daughter she is, for her mother, she even forgets the punishment.

Another day, Mizi went to walk with the king in the orchard. She picked a peach and tasted it, since she felt it was very delicious and gave the remainder to the king. The king felt: she loves me so much and don’t want to enjoy it by herself.

After many years, Mizi’s beauty faded and the king didn’t love her as before. One day, she offended the king, the king’s attitude to her completely changed: it is she who used my carriage without my permit, and she also gave me the remainder of what she ate to me. She is really extremely disrespect me.

What changed? Did Mizi change from a good woman into a sinner? No, it is the feelings of the king to her changed, and which made the same things be different in his eyes. Love changes into dislike, then trust changes into distrust. It is often the case in the things around us.

The following is a fable that shows the similar principle. Two people say the same words. One was praised, while another was regarded thief.

After heavy rains, the bounding walls of a rich family fell. His neighbor reminded him: you should repair it as soon as possible, or else some thieves maybe break in.

The rich man’s son also said: father, repair it as soon as possible, or else our house maybe be broken in.

The result is, at that night, a thief broke in and stolen lots of fortune from the rich. His response was: praise his son for his wisdom, while was doubtful of his neighbor’s kindness and thought maybe it is his neighbor that stolen his money.