The Best Spear and Shield
自相矛盾
In ancient times, there was a man who sold spears as well as shields in the State of Chu.
古时候,楚国有个卖矛和盾的人。
One day, he held up a shield and said proudly, "My shield is very strong. Nothing can pierce through it.”
一天,他举起他的盾得意地说:“我的盾非常坚固。没有任何东西可以刺穿它。”
Then he held up his spear and bragged, "My spear is very sharp. There is nothing it cannot pierce through.”
他又举起他的矛夸口说:“我的矛非常锋利。没有它穿透不了的东西。”
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People all around here laughed when they heard the words of him. An old man asked, “What will happen if I pierce your shield with your spear?”
听到他说的话后,周围的人都笑了。一个老人问:“如果我用你的矛去刺你的盾,结果会怎么样呢?”
The man was too embarrassed to say anything.
那个人窘得连一句话也答不上来。
成语出处
楚人有鬻盾与矛者,誉之曰:“吾盾之坚,物莫能陷也。”又誉其矛日:“吾矛之利,于物莫不陷也。”或曰:“以子之矛陷子之盾,何如?”其人弗能应也。众皆笑之。夫不可陷之盾与无不陷之矛,不可同世而立。
自相矛盾,出自《韩非子·难一》,比喻说话或做事前后不一致、相互抵触。