There was a scholar who always
quoted the classics. His motto was "Don't violate classical teachings."
One day his home caught fire. His sister-in-law urged him to
tell his brother to hurry back to put out the fire. As he went he thought of the
classical saying "no goal can be attained in haste." So he walked slowly to find
his brother, who was playing chess. He stood there watching until the end of game.
Then he told his brother what had happened. On hearing this, his brother trembled
with anger and asked him why he had not told him earlier. He answered: "It is
written on your chess board: A gentleman does not speak while watching." When
his brother raised a hand to strike him, the scholar said, "A gentleman will not
regret it if he thinks before he acts." |