Tian Si deceived the Lord of Zou, who planned to have him put to death. Terrified, Tian Si turned to Hui Zi for help.
Hui Zi went to see the Lord of Zou and asked: “Suppose a man comes to meet you and winks insolently with one eye. What will you do?” The lord answered: “I will surely kill him.” Hui Zi said: “A blind man has both eyes sightless. Why do you not kill him?” The lord replied: “He cannot help being like this.”
Hui Zi said: “Tian Si has slighted the Lord of Qi in the east and cheated the King of Chu in the south. Deceiving others is his very nature, just as blindness is to the blind. Why bear a grudge against him alone?” The Lord of Zou then spared Tian Si.
Note
This text is excerpted from Han Feizi, Chapter: The Forest of Persuasions (Part I). The story tells us that we should distinguish between deliberate wrongdoing and inherent nature. Do not vent anger exclusively on someone whose bad conduct is a lifelong habit. Wise reasoning can resolve conflicts effectively.
Late Warring States Legalist philosopher, recording this story to illustrate reasoning by analogy.
Tian Si
A man known for habitual deception and insolence toward nobles.
Lord of Zou
Ruler of the State of Zou, angered by being deceived.
Hui Zi (Hui Shi)
Hui Shi, also known as Hui Zi (Master Hui), was a native of the State of Song in the mid-Warring States period. He was a renowned statesman, thinker, and philosopher, as well as the founding father and a leading representative of the School of Names (Mingjia). He was also a close and dear friend of the Daoist philosopher Zhuangzi.
Lord of Qi, King of Chu
Rulers of powerful neighboring states, also mistreated by Tian Si.
Analogical Argumentation
A common debating technique in ancient China. By comparing similar things, the speaker clarifies distinctions and persuades others.
Intentional Act vs. Inborn Nature
The key logic: deliberate insult is blameworthy, while behavior stemming from inherent character or physical defects should not be resented.
Status and Etiquette
In ancient times, disrespect to a lord was regarded as a serious offense, often punished severely.
田駟欺鄒君，鄒君將使人殺之，田駟恐，告惠子，惠子見鄒君曰：「今有人見君，則眇其一目，奚如？」君曰：「我必殺之。」惠子曰：「瞽，兩目眇，君奚為不殺？」君曰：「不能勿犁。」惠子曰：「田駟東慢齊侯，南欺荊王，駟之於欺人，瞽也，君奚怨焉？」鄒君乃不殺。
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