A good bird actively chooses the tree in
which it wants to roost.(良禽擇木而棲)
In late Ming Dynasty China, there was a
famous writer named Feng Menglong who wrote a collection of short stories.
One of these stories is set in the Tang
Dynasty of China.
In Shandong Province, there was a very
knowledgeable scholar named Xiao Yingshi.
The servants in his household would anger
him if they said or did something wrong.
When this happened, he would lose his temper
and beat the offending servants with whatever he could get his hands on.
The servants left Xiao Yingshi's house one
by one, until only one servant, Du Liang, remained.
When Xiao Yingshi was angry and had no
other servants to take out his frustration on, Du Liang was beaten more and
more often.
One day, Du Liang's cousin advised him to
leave as soon as possible. Du Liang replied to his cousin:
'I thought about what you just said a long
time ago.
If I really wanted to leave, I would have
quit this job several years ago.'
There is an ancient Chinese proverb: A good
bird takes the initiative in choosing the tree in which to live, and an
excellent minister takes the initiative in choosing the king to whom to be
loyal.
I will continue to work here instead of
resigning — that is my choice.
I think my boss's main shortcoming is his
impatience, but he doesn't have any other major flaws. To be honest, he is a
boss worth following, which is why I didn't leave.
Du Liang's cousin replied with a smile.
'We see a lot of rich and powerful people
around us. Are they not as worthy as your boss?
Du Liang replied.
'Yes, I think my boss is more worthy of me
than these rich and powerful people.'
A person's status changes over time, and
vulgar people only focus on money.
My boss is well-read and knowledgeable. He
has unique insights on many things and can write touching articles.
Because he is accomplished in literature
and has a humanistic outlook, I think he is more worthy of my loyalty than
those who have money and power.
Du Liang's cousin answered with a smile.
'Although he has literary accomplishments,
do you think he can give you a generous salary so you can eat and dress well in
the future if you continue to follow him?
We are all ordinary people. The main reason
we work as servants is to earn a stable salary and live a good life. I asked
you to think it over carefully.
Your boss may be highly accomplished, but
he has offended the Tang Dynasty's prime minister. He will no longer have the
opportunity to work for the central government, and, most importantly, he beats
people. You are often beaten by him. You really must think carefully about
this. This is very important for your future.
Du Liang answered.
'I think money is not the most important
thing in my life. I am very grateful for your kindness. You came to persuade me
to resign for my own good, but I have decided to stay here. I will work here
until the day I die.'
Du Liang's cousin sighed and left, looking
helpless.
This idiom means that a good bird actively
chooses the tree it wants to live in.
It is also used to describe how a good
person will actively choose the person they want to follow.
Dear friends, what inspiration or thoughts
have you taken away from this story?
What kind of leader do you think is worthy
of your loyalty? What is the most important value in your life?
I hope this story brings you new insights.
良禽擇木而棲(A good bird actively chooses the
tree in which it wants to roost.)
中國的明王朝末年，有一個著名的文學家，他的名字叫做(馮夢龍)，他寫過一本短篇小說集。
在這本書中有一個小故事的背景發生在中國的唐王朝。
在中國的山東省有一個知識很豐富的學者，他的名字叫做蕭穎士。
他家中的僕人們只要說錯一句話或做錯一件事就會讓他暴怒。
他在暴怒的情況下會失去理智，他會隨手拿起手邊可以拿到的任何東西來暴打那些犯了錯的僕人。
蕭穎士家中僕人們一個一個的離職，他家中最後只剩下一個名字叫做杜亮的僕人。
當蕭穎士生氣的時候，他沒有別人的僕人可以發洩情緒，所以杜亮愈來愈常被蕭穎士暴力毆打。
有一天，杜亮的堂弟勸他要儘快離職，杜亮回答他的堂弟。
你剛才說的這些話，我早就想過了。
如果我真的想要離職，我早在幾年前就會離開這個工作了。
中國古代有一句諺語。一隻優良的鳥會主動選擇牠所要棲息的樹，一個優秀的大臣會主動選擇他所要效忠的君王。
我會繼續在這裡工作而沒有辭職，這是我自主選擇的結果。
我認為我的老闆的缺點就是個性比較急躁，其他倒是沒有甚麼大的缺點。說實在的，他是一個很值得追隨的老闆，所以我沒有離開。
杜亮的堂弟笑著回答。
我們周圍可以看到很多的有錢人與有權力的人，難道他們都比不上你的老闆值得你追隨嗎?
杜亮回答。
沒錯，我認為我的老闆比這些有錢人與有權力的人更值得我追隨。
一個人的地位會隨著時間的變化而改變，一個庸俗的人才會只關注金錢。
我的老闆有著高深的學問與豐富的知識，他對於很多事情都有自己獨到的見解，他可以寫出非常打動人心的文章。
因為他有著豐富的文學素養與人文內涵，所以我認為他比那些有金錢與有權力的人更值得我追隨。
杜亮的堂弟笑著回答。
雖然他有著豐富的文學素養，但是你認為你繼續跟隨他，他以後可以給你愈來愈豐厚的薪水讓你吃的好與穿的好嗎?
我們都是平凡人，我們當佣人的最主要原因就是要有穩定的薪水可以讓我們好好的過生活，我問為你應該要好好想清楚。
你的老闆可能真的很有文學素養，可是他已經得罪了唐王朝的宰相，他不會再有機會進入中央政府工作，而且最重要的他會打人，你常常被他毆打，你真的要好好的想清楚，這對你未來的人生很重要。
杜亮回答。
我認為金錢並不是我的人生中最重要的東西，我很感謝你的好意，我知道你來勸我離職是為了我好，但我已經決定了，我還是要繼續待在這裡工作，我會在這裡工作直到我死的那一天。
杜亮的堂弟嘆了一口氣，他無奈的離開。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一隻優良的鳥會主動選擇他所要棲息的樹。
這句成語被用來形容一個優秀的人才會主動的選擇他所要追隨的人。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你認為怎樣的領導者值得你追隨呢?你人生中最重視的價值為何呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為醒世恆言-卷35-徐老僕義憤成家
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E9%86%92%E4%B8%96%E6%81%86%E8%A8%80/%E7%AC%AC35%E5%8D%B7