A short rope cannot draw water from a deep
well.(綆短汲深)
During China's Spring and Autumn period,
Guan Zhong was a famous minister in the Kingdom of Qi. He helped the King of Qi
make Qi the most powerful kingdom in terms of military strength and national
power. History books tell a story about him.
One day, the King of Qi was conversing with
Guan Zhong.
The king asked,
'I want to implement a policy, and I think
it is important that I explain its contents clearly to everyone. I believe that
everyone in the kingdom, whether intelligent or foolish, should fully
understand its purpose.
Do you think my idea is correct?'
Guan Zhong looked at the king, first
nodding, then shaking his head.
He said,
'Your idea is correct, but this approach is
not something a truly wise king would take.'
The king asked in confusion.
'Could you please explain what you mean?'
Guan Zhong smiled and replied,
'A short rope cannot draw water from a deep
well.
If a person's knowledge and understanding
are too limited, they will be unable to comprehend profound truths."
You can discuss the essence of things with
a wise person, methods of thinking with a learned person, and the laws
governing the universe with someone of high moral character.
However, you cannot discuss these things
with just anyone, because everyone's wisdom, knowledge and character varies.
Most people cannot understand things beyond
their own knowledge and wisdom.
I think you have this thought because you
want your policies to be implemented more smoothly. However, even if your
policies are perfect, I believe they will still be debated, criticised and
questioned by people during implementation — this is a normal phenomenon.
I believe that, in order to manage such a
large kingdom and so many people, a precise and meticulous approach is not the
best way to go about things. Instead, you should adopt a herding mentality
towards them.
You can formulate clear laws, promulgate
them, and then guide everyone to follow these norms, just as you would herd
cattle and sheep.
However, it is unrealistic to expect
everyone to understand the purpose of your policies.
The idiom literally translates as 'a short
rope cannot draw water from a deep well'.
It is used to describe someone who lacks
the ability to perform a difficult task.
It is also used to describe someone who
lacks wisdom and cannot comprehend profound truths.
Dear friend, what are your thoughts or
feelings after hearing this story?
Do you consider yourself a wise person?
Have you ever recognised the limitations of your own thinking?
I hope this story has given you some new
insights.
綆短汲深(A short rope cannot draw water from a
deep well.)
中國的春秋時代，齊王國有一個著名的大臣，他的名字叫做管仲，他協助齊王國的國王成為當代武力與國力最強大的王國。歷史書上記載了一個他的故事。
有一天，齊王國的國王與管仲在對談。
國王問。
我想要推動一項政策，我認為我應該把這項政策的內容向所有的百姓說明清楚，我認為全王國中的所有人不管聰明或是愚笨，都應該要非常明白我所要推動這項政策的目的。
你認為我的這個想法對嗎?
管仲看著國王，他先點點頭後接著又搖搖頭。
他說。
你的想法是對的，但這種做法並非一個非常賢明的國王所會採取的行動。
國王疑惑地反問。
你可以解釋清楚你的意思嗎?
管仲微笑著回答。
一條很短的繩子無法把深井中的水打上來。
一個人的知識與見識如果太低，那麼這個人將無法理解太過於高深的道理。
你可以跟一個有智慧的人討論事物的本質，你可以跟一個有學識豐富的人討論思維的方法，你可以跟一個品德崇高的人討論宇宙的運行法則。
以上這些，你無法跟所有的百姓討論，因為百姓們的智慧與學識還有品德是高低不齊的。
大部分的人都無法理解自己無法理解的事物，大部分的人都無法理解高於自己的知識與智慧的事。
你會有這種想法，我想是因為你希望你的政策推動更順利，但是我認為就算你的政策非常的完美，但這項政策在推行的時候，仍舊會遭遇到百姓們的爭論與挑剔與質疑，這是正常的一種現象。
我認為，要管理一個那麼大的王國中的那麼多的百姓，你應該採取的做法並非
精準細緻的掌控，相反的，你應該採取一種放牧牛羊的心態去管理這些百姓。
你可以制定清楚的法令並且公布實施，然後像是放牧牛羊一樣的引導所有的百姓去遵循這些規範。
但我認為你想要讓所有人都理解你的政策的目的這種想法是不切實際的。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是一條很短的繩子無法把深井中的水打上來。
這句成語被用來形容一個人的能力不夠，這個人難以勝任艱鉅的任務。
這句成語被用來形容一個人的智慧不夠，這個人無法理解高深的道理。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的感受或有怎樣的想法呢。
你認為你是一個有智慧的人嗎?你是否曾經看到自己的思想的局限呢?
我希望這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為說苑-政理
https://zh.wikisource.org/zh-hant/%E8%AA%AA%E8%8B%91/%E5%8D%B707