A man who lost his axe suspected his neighbour’s son of stealing it.
He watched the way the lad walked — exactly like a thief. He watched the boy’s expression — it was that of a thief. He watched the way he talked — just like a thief. In short, all his gestures and actions proclaimed him guilty of theft.
But later he found his axe himself when he went out to dig a soil pit. And after that, when he saw his neighbour’s son, all the lad’s gestures and actions looked quite unlike those of a thief.
Allegorical Meaning
This ancient Chinese fable brilliantly encapsulates a fundamental truth of human psychology: We do not see the world as it is; we see it as we are. Our internal state – our beliefs, suspicions, fears, and prejudices – acts as a powerful filter, shaping and often distorting our interpretation of reality, particularly concerning other people. The story is a timeless reminder to:
- Question our suspicions.
- Beware of confirmation bias.
- Seek objective evidence before judging.
- Recognize the power of projection.
- Practice self-awareness in our perceptions.
It warns that failing to do so leads to misjudgment, damaged relationships, and a distorted view of the world, as clearly shown by the man’s radically shifting perception of his neighbor based solely on the presence or absence of his misplaced axe.
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