English Original
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?"
中文翻译
有一次，孔子东游途中，遇见两个小孩正在激烈地争辩。孔子问道：“孩子们，你们在争论什么？”
一个小孩说：“我认为太阳刚出山时离我们近，到了中午就离我们远了。”
另一个小孩争辩道：“我认为正好相反：日出时远，中午时近。”
第一个小孩解释道：“众所周知，远物显小，近物显大。太阳初升时大如车盖，到了中午却只像盘碟。这不正说明日出时太阳离我们更近吗？”
第二个小孩反驳道：“我们都知道近物觉热，远物觉凉。日出时空气清爽，到了中午却热如探汤。这不正说明中午时太阳离我们更近吗？”
两个孩子争论不休。孔子无法判断谁对谁错。两个孩子便嘲笑他说：“谁说你博学多知呢？”