黄金万两

齐人有东郭敬者，犹多愿，愿有万金。其徒请赒焉，不与，曰：“吾将以求封也” 。其徒怒而去之宋，曰：“此爱于无也，故不如以先与之有也。”

——《商子》

Ten Thousand Taels of Gold

In the state of Qi there was one Mr. Dongguo Chang who was a man ambitions. Among other things, he wanted to possess ten thousand tales of gold.

A student of his, knowing of this ambition, asked to be favoured with a small sum, for he was very poor.

Mr. Dongguo Chang refused to grant his request. “I need all my money to buy myself a post in the government,” he said.

His student became angry and left for the state of Song. Before he went he said to the teacher, “Since I shall have no share in the fortunes that you are coveting, I’d better seek them elsewhere. Maybe I can come by them earlier than you do.”

From:Shang Zi

(杨宪益、戴乃迭 译)