從前,有個人在市場上叫賣兵器。他舉起手中的矛說:“我的矛鋒利無比,沒有什么是它刺不穿的!”圍觀的人群嘖嘖稱奇。接著,他又舉起自己的盾,夸耀道:“我的盾堅固異常,任何武器都別想刺穿它!”這時,人群中有個人好奇地問:“如果用你的矛去刺你的盾,會怎么樣呢?”商人一時語塞,無法回答。此后,這個故事被用來比喻人的言行互相抵觸。
Once upon a time, a merchant was in the market selling his weapons. He held up a spear and boasted, “My spear is so sharp that there is nothing it can not pierce I” The onlookers marveled at his claim. Then he raised his shield and bragged, “My shield is so tough that nothing can pierce it!” At that moment, someone from the crowd asked curiously, “What will happen if you pierce your shield with your spear?” The merchant was left speechless and couldn’t answer. Since then, the story has been used as a metaphor for the inconsistency between words and deeds.