Buyingshoes
AmanofthestateofZhengwantedtobuyapairofshoes.Hemeasuredhisfootandputthemeasurementonachair.Whenhesetoutforthemarketheforgottobringitalong.Itwasafterhehadfoundthepairhewantedthatthisoccurredtohim.
Iforgotthemeasurement,saidhe.
Hewenthometogetitbutwhenhereturnedthemarkethadbrokenupandhedidnotgethisshoesafterall.
Whydidn'tyoutryontheshoeswithyourfeet?
Hewasasked.
I'drathertrustthemeasurementthantrustmyself.(《Hanfeizi》)
郑人买履
从前,郑国有个人想买双鞋.他量好了自己脚的尺码,把它放在了椅子上.可当他赶往市集时,却忘了带量好的尺码.他要买鞋时,才想了起来.
他说:"我忘带尺码了."
他回家去取量好的尺码.等他赶回来时,市集已经关了,他还是没能买到鞋.
有人问:"为什么不用你自己的脚去量鞋子呢?"
他说:"我宁愿相信尺码也不相信我自己的脚."(《韩非子》)