I would rather feel sorry for everyone than ask anyone to feel sorry for me.

It comes from "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms" by Luo Guanzhong, a novelist in the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties.

The original text is as follows:

Chen Gong said: "Killing because of knowledge is a great injustice!" Cao Cao said: "I would rather teach me to betray the people of the world than teach the people of the world to betray me. "

The translation is as follows:

Chen Gong said: "It is very unfair to kill someone after knowing their true intentions." Cao Cao said: "I would rather be sorry. No one can be sorry for me."

Extended information:

Historical allusion: Capturing and releasing Cao

During the Three Kingdoms period, Cao Cao failed to assassinate Dong Zhuo. , modified and escaped, and was captured by Chen Gong in Zhongmu County. Hou Cao used words to impress Chen Gong, causing Chen Qiguan to escape together. When they arrived at Chenggao, they went to find Cao's father's old friend Lu Boxe, who killed a pig to entertain him.

Cao Cao was furious after hearing this, and mistakenly thought that Lu Bo wanted to do harm, so he killed Lu's family, burned the village and fled. Chen Gong felt very regretful when he saw that Cao Cao was cruel and cruel and killed innocent people in vain. While staying at the inn, he tried to assassinate Cao Cao while he was sleeping, but then gave up and left alone.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Catch and Release Cao