To Stand by a Tree Trunk Waiting for More Hares to Dash Themselves Against It
守株待兔
Wrtings of Hanfeizi·Five Bookworms:In the state of Song,there was a farmer,and in his fields stood a tree stump. A hare,which was run-ning very fast,dashed against the stump and died,having broken its neck. There-fore,the farmer abandoned his plough and waited by the tree stump,hoping to get another hare. Of course,he did not get his hare but became a laughing stock in the state of Song. Now the phrase is used to satirize those who rigidly adhere to limited experience and refuse to adapt themselves to the changing situation,or those who trust foolishly to chance and luck.
故事出自《韩非子.五蠢》,大意是说:宋国有个农民,他的田地中有一棵树桩。一天,一只跑得飞快的兔子撞在了树桩上,扭断了脖子而死。从此,那个农民荒废了他的耕作,天天等在树桩旁,希望能再得到只兔子。当然,兔子没有等到,他自己却成了宋朝的笑柄。后人就用了“守株等兔”一词来比喻拘泥于狭隘的经验,不知变通,或妄想不劳而获、坐享其成。