中文 / B1
自相矛盾
楚国有个人卖盾牌和长矛。这两样都是武器：盾牌用来保护自己，长矛则用来攻击对方。
他介绍自己的盾牌时说：「我的盾牌非常结实，不管什么东西，都不能把它刺穿。」
介绍长矛时，他又说：「我的长矛非常锋利。不管什么东西，都能被它刺穿。」
听到这两句话，有人问他：「如果用你的长矛去刺你的盾牌，结果会怎么样？」
卖武器的人回答不出来。
他说的盾牌能挡住一切东西，长矛却又能刺穿一切东西。要是长矛能刺穿盾牌，关于盾牌的话就不对；要是刺不穿，关于长矛的话就不对。这两种说法不可能同时成立。
English summary · includes the ending
A man from the ancient state of Chu sells shields and spears. To praise his shield, he claims that nothing can pierce it. He then praises his spear, saying that it can pierce absolutely anything.
Someone asks what would happen if he used his own spear against his own shield. The seller cannot answer. The two claims sound impressive separately, but they cannot both be true when the weapons are tested against each other.
If the spear pierces the shield, the shield is not impossible to pierce. If the shield stops the spear, the spear cannot pierce everything. Either result would disprove one of his promises.
The story ends with the seller unable to resolve this problem. No actual test takes place. A single question is enough to reveal the conflict between his two statements, which is the point behind the familiar Chinese expression for contradicting oneself.
Adapted for Lejrbål from the credited source.
Read the source