Han Feizi shares a classic Zheng tale: both the homeowner’s son and a neighbor warned of theft from a crumbling wall. After being robbed, the man admired his son’s wisdom yet wrongly accused the helpful neighbor out of prejudice.
Ji Kangzi was troubled by theft and asked Confucius for advice. Confucius replied, “If you yourself did not desire stolen goods, even if you offered rewards for stealing, people would not steal.”
In Journey to the West (Chapter 5), why did Sun Wukong immobilize the Seven Fairy Maidens sent to pick peaches and rush to the Jade Pool? Was he suspicious they lacked the Queen Mother’s authorization?