As history continues to advance, so does culture. From the oracle bone inscriptions of the Shang Dynasty, to the unification of writing by Qin Shihuang, to the later Tang poetry and Song lyrics, all of them demonstrate the charm of Chinese culture. Over the past thousands of years, many famous thinkers and philosophers have appeared in China. They have condensed their thoughts into concise and easy-to-understand language, resulting in famous aphorisms that have been passed down through the ages. When we create or chat with others, we often I will quote these sentences from the ancients to support my point of view. However, the original meaning of some famous quotes is different from what modern people understand, or even completely opposite, just like the following five famous quotes.

Famous saying 1: There is no business without treachery

Literally, it can be understood that people who do not know how to use tricks and scheming cannot become businessmen, and this also derives from "no business". As long as you are not a fool, you can recognize that the saying "Businessmen are not evil" is a derogatory term. As everyone knows, the ancients never said "No business without treachery", but "No business without excellence". Although there is only one word difference, the meaning is completely opposite.

In ancient times, merchants who sold rice used a bucket to weigh rice to their customers. Not only would they not be short of a pound, they would also give them extra, so the bucket would be sharper. Achieve the purpose of attracting repeat customers. Over time, there has been a saying of "no criticism, no negotiation", which means to benefit the customers, which is similar to the modern saying of "benefiting the customers" and increasing the quantity without increasing the price.

Famous saying 2: No one who is not poisonous will not have a husband

When someone is cruel, they often say "no one is not a husband", which means that if you are not ruthless, you will not be able to do anything. It is called a man who is upright and upright. Is this really the original intention of the ancients? Originally it was "no degree, no husband". I don't know who changed "degree" to "poison", which is completely contrary to the ancient meaning. "Du" means broad-mindedness and tolerance, and "no degree is not a husband" is to advise people to be broad-minded and not care about things, so that they can be worthy of the title of a man.

Famous saying 3: Wine and meat pass through the intestines and stay in the heart of the Buddha

This sentence was first said by Zen Master Daoji, also known as Jigong. In ancient times, monks could not touch wine and meat. Why could Jigong eat and drink so much and still say this? Jigong had a very high level of cultivation. After eating two dead pigeons into his stomach, he could spit out two lively pigeons. This is something that ordinary monks cannot achieve, so Jigong went on to say, "If people in the world imitate me, it will be like entering the devil's way." . If you can't reach Jigong's level of cultivation, don't use "the meat and wine passed through the intestines and stayed in the heart of the Buddha" as an excuse to eat meat and drink, otherwise you will stray into the devil's path.

Famous Quote 4: Repay evil with kindness

This is a word we often hear or mention. Literally it can be understood as saying that when you are bullied by others, not only should you not hold grudges or retaliate, but To thank him, invite him to dinner, and give him gifts, let alone a mortal, it is estimated that even a saint would find it difficult to achieve this state. When educating his disciples, Confucius asked: "Repay kindness with kindness, how can we repay kindness?" The disciple was silent, and Confucius then gave a solution: "Repay kindness with kindness, repay kindness with kindness." Therefore, when advising others to repay kindness with kindness, At this time, think about whether you can do it, and remember Confucius's "repaying grievances with straightness".

Famous Quote 5: My life has a limit, but my knowledge has no limit

Many people understand "My life has a limit, but my knowledge has no limit" as: Our life is limited, but the world is boundless. Knowledge is unlimited, so you cannot waste time. You must use all your time and energy on the path of pursuing knowledge, so that you can become a knowledgeable and talented person. This understanding seems reasonable and very positive, but do you know what its original meaning is?

This sentence comes from "Zhuangzi: The Master of Health": "My life also has a limit, but I know it has no limit. If I have a limit, I will follow the limitless, and I will die!" Did you see that the latter sentence is what Zhuangzi wants to express? Meaning, life is only a few decades, and if you spend all your time pursuing infinite knowledge, you will become exhausted and unable to enjoy the joy of life.

Of course, Zhuangzi is a representative figure of Taoism and advocates "quietness and inaction". It is understandable that he would say so.

Therefore, when we quote the famous sayings of the ancients, we must understand their original meaning and cannot take them out of context or copy what others say, otherwise it may make a joke. Do you know any other idioms, proverbs or sayings that are often misunderstood by modern people?