by Han Fei
Yang Zhu was passing through the State of Song and stayed at an inn.
The innkeeper had two concubines: one was beautiful, the other plain. Yet the plain one was treated with respect, while the beautiful one was treated lightly.
Yang Zhu asked why this was so.
The innkeeper replied: “The beautiful one is conceited about her beauty, so I do not regard her as beautiful. The plain one is humble about her plainness, so I do not regard her as plain.”
Yang Zhu said to his disciples: “Remember this!
If you act virtuously but rid yourself of conceit about your virtue, where will you go and not be loved?”
Note
Yang Zhu (Yang Zi)
A famous thinker in ancient China, roughly contemporary with Mencius. He is known for his emphasis on self-preservation and rational self-care, but in this fable, he teaches a lesson about modesty and virtue.
Yang Zhu advocated the ideas of valuing the self, cherishing life, and “everyone would not sacrifice even a single hair for the world”. He was the founder of the Yang Zhu School of Daoism. His views are scattered in works such as Liezi, Zhuangzi, Mencius, Han Feizi, and Master Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals. During the Warring States Period, there was a saying that “all under heaven followed either Yang or Mo“, which shows the great influence of his doctrines.
Han Fei
A major Legalist philosopher in the Warring States Period. He collected many philosophical fables to illustrate moral and political wisdom.
The Innkeeper
A common man whose simple insight reveals profound wisdom about human nature and character.
Inn culture in ancient China
Inns were common resting places for travelers, scholars, and merchants, often appearing in Chinese fables as places where life lessons are learned.
Value of modesty in traditional Chinese culture
This story reflects a core ideal: arrogance spoils goodness, while humility makes one respected. True worth lies in character, not appearance or self-praise.
杨朱过宋，东之于逆旅。逆旅人有妾二人，其一人美，其一人恶；恶者贵而美者贱。杨朱问其故。逆旅小子对曰：”其美者自美，吾不知其美也；其恶者自恶，吾不知其恶也。”杨朱曰：”弟子记之！行贤而去自贤之行，安往而不爱哉?”
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