Once Confucius(孔子)was passing by a village where he saw an old man with his young son pulling water from the well. Confucius was1to see this as at that time people harnessed(使用)horses or oxen to pull2from the well.
Confucius with3went to the old man and said, "Why are you unnecessarily4yourself and the young man, now that we have harnessed horses and oxen?"
The old man5to him, "Please speak6I don't want my son to hear this. I can answer you, but please7when my son goes for lunch."
Confucius was puzzled. He kept8and waited until the old man came to him alone at9time. Confucius questioned, "Why would you not let your son10what I said?"
The old man replied, "I am 85 years old and yet I have11to work side by side. If today I12horses to pull water, then my son will not be able to have the same strength at 85 as I have now. That's why I13you not to speak about it in front of my son. It's a question of his14. We've heard that in towns people use horses or machines to pull water from the well.15if I use them now too, then what will he do? What16will it have on my son's health? If he is saved from doing hard work now, then how will he be able to17his health? "
What we do today will affect us18. What we do on one hand has an immediate effect on the other. He who19during the daytime destroys his repose(休息)of the night. Rest has to be earned through20.
