《古代寓言·邹忌比美》（中英对照）

邹忌修八尺有余，而形貌丽，朝服衣冠，窥镜，谓其妻曰：“我与城北徐公孰美？”其妻曰：“君美甚，徐公何能及君也！” ——城北徐公，齐国之美丽者也。忌不自信，而复问其妾曰：“吾与徐公孰美？”妾曰：“徐公何能及君也！”旦日，客从外来，与坐谈，问之：“吾与徐公孰美？”客曰：“徐公不若君之美也。”明日，徐公来。孰视之，自以为不如；窥镜而视，又弗为远甚。暮寝而思之曰：“吾妻之美我者，私我也；妾之美我者，畏我也；客之美我者，欲有求于我也。”

——《战国策》

Which was the More Handsome

Lord Zou Ji of the state of Qi was six feet tall and a fine figure of a man. One morning he dressed himself smartly, and studied himself in the mirror.

“Which is more handsome,” he asked his wife, “Lord Xu of the north city or I?”

“You are ever so handsome,” replied his wife. “How can Lord Xu of the north city or I?”

Since Lord Xu of the north city was famed for his good looks throughout the state, Zou Ji did not altogether believe his wife. He repeated his question to his concubine.

“How can Lord Xu compare with you?” cried the concubine.

Later that morning a protégé came in, and Zou Ji put the same question to him.

“You are by far the more handsome,” replied this man.

The next day Lord Xu called, and a careful scrutiny convinced Zou Ji that Xu’s good looks far surpassed his. He studied himself in the mirror, and undoubtedly he was the plainer of the two.

That night in bed he reached the following conclusion: “My wife said I was more handsome because she is biased. My concubine said so because she is afraid. And my protégé said so because he wants something from me!”

Warring States Anecdotes