Bo Le taught the disciple he disliked to judge thoroughbred steeds that run a thousand li a day, and instructed his favored pupil to identify inferior nags. Fine thousand-li horses emerge only occasionally and bring slow returns, while common nags sell every day and yield quick profits. This matches the saying from Book of Zhou: “To adopt superficial remarks for important affairs is to fall into delusion.”
Note
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher, uses the anecdote to warn against empty talk about profound theories without being grounded in specific contexts and material interests. This tale reflects a key characteristic of Legalist thought: prioritizing practical results over empty prestige.
Bo Le
Bo Le was China’s legendary master of horse appraisal, symbol of professional connoisseur.
Two disciples
One unloved assigned high-end horse appraisal, the favored one engaged in ordinary low-grade horse trade.
Thousand-li steed & inferior nag
In ancient China, fine thoroughbreds were rare precious assets for royal army and nobles; ordinary nags were common livestock for daily civilian trade.
Book of Zhou
An ancient pre-Qin historical document recording early state governance precepts.
Extreme Pragmatism and Profit-Orientation
As the ultimate authority in horse appraisal, Bo Le’s teaching arrangements were not based on the “level of knowledge,” but rather on the “speed of monetization.” Teaching someone to identify a thoroughbred (a thousand-li horse) pursues the highest technical ceiling, but the commercial return cycle is far too long. On the other hand, while appraising inferior horses requires lower technical skill, it aligns perfectly with the business logic of high-frequency trading, allowing for rapid profit generation.
Insight into Human Nature and “Counterintuitive Operations”
Bo Le adopted diametrically opposite strategies toward those he disliked and those he loved. One interpretation is that he handed down the high-risk, low-yield “dragon-slaying skills” to people he despised, leaving them to rely on luck and waste their time; meanwhile, he reserved safe, quick-money survival tactics for his favorites.
The gap between ideal and reality
Everything in this world operates according to objective laws. Empty talk about profound theories without being grounded in specific contexts and material interests, or the misallocation of resources and goals, will inevitably lead to disastrous consequences.
伯樂教其所憎者相千里之馬，教其所愛者相駑馬。千里之馬時一，其利緩，駑馬日售，其利急。此《周書》所謂「下言而上用者惑也。」
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