《古代寓言·南辕北辙》（中英对照）

魏王欲攻邯郸。季梁闻之，中道而反，衣焦不申，头尘不去，往见王曰：

“今者臣来，见人于大行，方北面而持其驾。告臣曰：‘我欲之楚。’臣曰：‘君之楚，将奚为北面？’曰：‘吾马良。’臣曰：‘马虽良，此非楚之路也。’曰：‘吾用多。’臣曰：‘用虽多，此非楚之路也。’曰：‘吾御者善。’此数者愈善，而离楚愈远耳！……”

——《战国策》

The Wrong Direction

The Prince of Wei decided to invade Handan, the capital of the state of Zhao. Although Qiliang was on a journey when he heard this, he turned back at once and, without waiting to smooth his crumpled garments or brush the dust from his head, went to see the king.

“On my way back,” he said, “I came across a man at Taihang Mountain, who was riding northwards. He told me he was going to the state of Chu.”

“In that case, why are you heading north? ” I asked him.

“That’s all right,” he replied. “I have good horses.”

“Your horses may be good, but you’re taking the wrong direction.”

“Well, I have plenty of money.”

“You may have plenty of money, bu this is the wrong direction.”

“Well, I have an excellent charioteer.”

“The better your horses,” I told him, “the more money you have and the more skilled your charioteer, the further you will get from the state of Chu.”

Warring States Anecdotes