The Value of Self-Reflection
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During the Warring States period, King Hui of Liang kept thinking of ways to make his state prosperous and his people’s lives stable. But after some years, the king noticed that few people joined the State of Liang and his population had not increased by much. Feeling puzzled, he asked Mencius, “I spend more effort improving the lives of my people than other kings do. Why is my population not increasing? ”
Mencius replied, “My king, there were once two deserters upon a battlefield. One ran a hundred steps, and the other ran fifty steps. The soldier who ran fifty steps called the other soldier a coward. What do you think? ”
King Hui replied, “How could he mock the other soldier? Though he did not run as far as the other soldier, it does not change the fact that he was a deserter himself! ”
Mencius said, “Though you conscientiously rule the kingdom, you are no different from the other kings who like to wage war on other states. This is why people do not want to move to the State of Liang, and why your population is not increasing. ”
Moral of the story: When seeing other people’s flaws, it is important to self-reflect and ask yourself if you have the same problem too.
