Someone mocked Hui Zi before the King of Liang, saying, "Hui Zi loves to use metaphors when he speaks. If he is forbidden to use them, he surely won't be able to explain anything clearly."
The next day, the King of Liang met Hui Zi and said, "From now on, speak directly to the point. Do not use metaphors or beat about the bush."
Hui Zi replied, "Suppose someone does not know what a slingshot is. If you tell him, 'A slingshot is a slingshot,' will he understand?"
"How could he?" said the King.
Hui Zi continued, "But if I tell him a slingshot is shaped like a bow, its string is made of bamboo, and it is a device for shooting, will he understand then?"
"Yes, he will," the King admitted.
Hui Zi concluded, "The purpose of an analogy is to use what is already known to explain what is unknown. How can I speak without using metaphors?"
The King of Liang said, "You are right."