When Confucius was traveling around all the states, he was once surrounded by crowds in Chen Cai district, and had not eaten a thing for seven days.

 

Yan Hui managed to get some rice and cooked it in no time.

 

When the rice was almost ready, Confucius saw him taking a snatch¹ at the rice and put it into his mouth.

 

When the rice was ready, Yan Hui brought it to Confucius. Confucius pretended that he had not seen him eating the rice, and said he wanted to use the rice as a sacrifice to his father.

 

Hearing this, Yan Hui hurriedly said, "No. Just now some ashes dropped in it and smeared²（涂抹，弄脏） the rice. I have taken out the smeared rice and eaten it."

 

After hearing this, Confucius sighed, "People tend to believe their eyes, but what you see with your eyes is not always true. People also tend to trust their own judgments³, but judgments could be wrong sometimes. So remember, it is difficult to know a person."

 

孔子周游列国时，在陈蔡地界被当地人团团围住，师徒一行人连续七天没吃到一点粮食。

 

颜回好不容易弄到了一点米，连忙烧火做饭。

 

饭快熟的时候，孔子看到颜回抓了一把塞进口中。饭熟后，颜回将饭献给孔子。

 

孔子假装没有看见颜回抓饭吃，说想用这饭祭奠父亲.

 

颜回一听，急忙说：“不行，刚才烟尘掉到锅里，把饭弄脏了，我已经抓出来吃了。”

 

孔子听后，对学生感叹道：“人们往往相信自己的眼睛，但眼睛看到的事情并非完全真实。人们也常常相信自己的判断，但任何判断都有可能存在失误。你们千万记住：了解人是件非常不容易的事.”

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