Going South by Driving North | 南辕北辙

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One day, Ji Liang went to see the King of Wei and reported: "On my way here, I saw a man driving his horse-drawn carriage northward in great haste.

I asked him, 'Where are you going in such a hurry?'

He replied, 'I am going to the State of Chu.'

I said, 'If you wish to go to Chu, you should head south. Why are you going north? You are on the wrong path!'

He said, 'My horse is big and strong. It can run as fast as flying. Traveling a little farther doesn't matter.'

I told him, 'Although your horse is excellent, you are heading in the wrong direction.'

He said, 'It doesn't matter. I have plenty of money.'

I told him again, 'Although you have plenty of money, this is not the road to Chu.'

He said, 'It doesn't matter. My driver is skilled and robust.'

Finally, I told him, 'Although your driver is skilled and robust, this is not the road to Chu.'"

The King of Wei blurted out: "Alas, this man is too obstinate. He fails to realize that if his direction is wrong, the better his resources, the farther he will be from his destination."

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