unrecognized talent

  • Han Feizi – Chapter 13.1

    He Shi, a man of Chu, found an unpolished jade stone in the Chu Mountains. He presented it to King Li of Chu. King Li ordered a jade craftsman to examine it, who said: “This is merely a stone.” The king thought He Shi was lying and cut off his left foot.

  • The Young Pine [Tang Poems]

    — Du Xunhe While young, the pine tree thrusts its head amid tall grass; Now by and by we find it outgrow weed in mass. People don’t realize it will grow to scrape the sky; Seeing it tower in cloud, then they know it’s high.