I cannot have both fish and bear's paw.(魚與熊掌不可得兼)
The Spring and Autumn and Warring States
periods in China were extremely chaotic, yet they also represented a golden age
of Chinese philosophy.
Many famous thinkers lived during this
period, offering their own solutions to social and existential problems.
One such figure was the Confucian scholar
Mencius. He believed that a king should rule his kingdom with benevolence and
compassion and that his most important task should be to meet the needs of his
people.
Mencius travelled to various kingdoms,
preaching his ideas to the kings.
In his writings, Mencius recorded a
dialogue between himself and a scholar named Gaozi.
Gaozi said to Mencius...
Confucianism believes that a person should
possess the virtues of benevolence and kindness, as well as the values of
justice and righteousness. However, if you continue to uphold these values in
the face of changing external circumstances, you may lose your life. What
choice would you make in that situation?
Mencius pondered for a few minutes, then
solemnly asked Gaozi:
'I have two favourite foods: fish and
bear's paws. If I could have both, I would be very happy. But if I could only
choose one, I would choose bear's paw.
I believe that a person's life is extremely
precious, as are the values of justice and righteousness that they uphold.
Ideally, both could coexist, but if I had to choose one, I would choose justice
and righteousness over my own life.
I cherish my life, but the values of
justice and righteousness that I uphold are more important to me than my own life.
Therefore, if I must make a choice, I will not hesitate to do what I believe is
right.
I hate death, but I hate even more someone
who abandons their values for life. To avoid becoming that kind of person, if I
am truly forced to choose, I will not hesitate to give up my life.
This idiom literally means 'I cannot have
both fish and bear's paw'.
It is used to describe the idea that it is
impossible to possess two important things at the same time; a choice must be
made.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts
did you gain from this story?
Do you think certain values are more
important than life itself?
Have you tried your best to become a person
you like?
I hope this story brings you some new
insights.
魚與熊掌不可得兼(I cannot have both fish and
bear's paw.)
中國的春秋時代與戰國時代是一個極度混亂的年代，但那段間同時也是中國思想上的黃金時代。
有許多著名的思想家生活在那個年代，這些思想家針對當時的社會問題與人生問題提出了各自認為最好的解決的辦法和思想。
儒家的一位名字叫做(孟軻)的學者就是其中一個代表性人物，他認為一個國王應該要用仁愛與仁慈來治理他的王國，一個國王應該要把滿足百姓的生活需求當作最重要的任務。
孟軻持續地到各個王國中去向各個王國的國王宣傳他的想法。
在孟軻所寫的書中，紀錄了一段他與當時一個名字叫做告子的學者的對話。
告子對孟軻說。
儒家認為一個人要具備仁慈與善良的品德，一個人要具備正義與公義的價值觀，假如有一天外在的環境改變，你如果繼續堅持你所認同的正義與公義的價值觀的話，你就會失去自己的生命，在那個時候，你會做出怎樣的選擇呢?
孟軻思考了幾分鐘後表情很嚴肅地對告子說。
我最喜歡吃的東西有兩種，一種是魚，另外一種是熊掌，如果可以同時選擇這兩種食材，那麼我會非常的開心，但是如果只能選擇一種食物，那麼我會選擇熊的腳掌。
我認為一個人的生命是極其珍貴的，一個人的內心所認同的正義與公義的價值觀也是極其珍貴的，如果兩種可以同時存在當然最好，但是如果面臨到只能選擇一種的時候，我會選擇放棄我的生命。
我很珍惜我的生命，但是對我而言，我所重視的正義與公義的價值觀的重要性超過我的生命，因此如果在必須做出選擇的時候，我會毫不猶豫地做出我認為正確的選擇。
我很討厭死亡，但是我更討厭一個為了生命而放棄自己的價值觀的人，為了不讓自己成為那種我討厭的人，我在真的必須做出選擇的時候，我會毫不猶豫地選擇放棄我的生命。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是我無法同時擁有一條魚與一隻熊掌。
這句成語被用來形容一個人無法同時擁有兩種對這個人都很重要的東西，這個人必須做出取捨。
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。
你的心中有沒有認為那些價值比你的生命更重要呢?你是否有盡力成為一個自己不討厭的人嗎?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為孟子-告子上-9條