Once, Confucius was traveling east to advocate his ideas when he encountered two children engaged in a heated argument. He asked them, "Children, what are you arguing about?"
One child said, "I believe the sun is closer to us when it first rises over the hills, and farther away at noon."
The other child argued, "I believe the opposite: it's farther when it rises and closer at noon."
The first child explained, "It's common knowledge that distant objects appear smaller while nearby ones look bigger. At sunrise, the sun is as large as the canopy of a carriage, but by noon, it's only the size of a plate or a dish. Doesn't this prove it's nearer to us at sunrise?"
The second child countered, "We all know that nearby things feel hot, while distant things feel cool. At sunrise, the air is fresh and clear, but by noon, it's as hot as putting your hand in boiling water. Doesn't this prove the sun is closer at noon?"
The children argued endlessly. Confucius found himself unable to determine who was right. The two children laughed at him, saying, "Who said you were so learned and wise?"