Stories from History: All People Saying the Same Thing Can Melt Gold
When Zeng Shen's mother was weaving at home, suddenly a person came to her and said, "Good heaven! Zeng Shen killed someone!"
Zeng's mother was very surprised. She thought that her son was a very kind person. It was impossible that Zeng Shen would kill someone. So she immediately said, "Impossible. Zeng would not kill anyone."
After a while, another person came and said, "My God! Zeng Shen killed someone!"
Zeng's mother still said, "Impossible. Zeng Shen wouldn't kill anyone." However, two more people came and said the same thing. She started questioning her judgment. She still trusted that Zeng Shen wouldn't kill anybody. However, she couldn't continue weaving any more. She started anxiously anticipating Zeng Shen's coming home.
After a while, another person came. This time, it was their neighbor. She couldn't hold her breath and said, "Good grief! Zeng Shen killed someone. He has been arrested. It is said that he's being interrogated now. Quick! Let's think about what to do!"
Zeng's mother now believed that her son killed someone. She cried. Due to the family punishment regulation, when a family member violated the law, the entire family would be penalized. Everyone advised Zeng's mother to flee quickly to avoid being arrested as well. However, if she ran away, who would take care of the house?
Just when everyone was discussing vigorously, Zeng Shen came home. Everyone was surprised. They asked Zeng, "Weren't you arrested because you killed someone? How could you come home? Was it because you killed a bad guy so you didn't have to pay your life for it?"
Zeng Shen laughed and said, "How could I kill anyone? I wouldn't be able to come home so soon if I had killed one. The murderer happened to have the same name as mine."
When lies are repeated three times, people think they are true. Sometimes when lies are repeated thousands of times, they may even become the truth. This is what ancient Chinese people call "all people saying the same thing can melt gold. The damage can build to the point of dissolving bones."
Zeng's mother was very surprised. She thought that her son was a very kind person. It was impossible that Zeng Shen would kill someone. So she immediately said, "Impossible. Zeng would not kill anyone."
After a while, another person came and said, "My God! Zeng Shen killed someone!"
Zeng's mother still said, "Impossible. Zeng Shen wouldn't kill anyone." However, two more people came and said the same thing. She started questioning her judgment. She still trusted that Zeng Shen wouldn't kill anybody. However, she couldn't continue weaving any more. She started anxiously anticipating Zeng Shen's coming home.
After a while, another person came. This time, it was their neighbor. She couldn't hold her breath and said, "Good grief! Zeng Shen killed someone. He has been arrested. It is said that he's being interrogated now. Quick! Let's think about what to do!"
Zeng's mother now believed that her son killed someone. She cried. Due to the family punishment regulation, when a family member violated the law, the entire family would be penalized. Everyone advised Zeng's mother to flee quickly to avoid being arrested as well. However, if she ran away, who would take care of the house?
Just when everyone was discussing vigorously, Zeng Shen came home. Everyone was surprised. They asked Zeng, "Weren't you arrested because you killed someone? How could you come home? Was it because you killed a bad guy so you didn't have to pay your life for it?"
Zeng Shen laughed and said, "How could I kill anyone? I wouldn't be able to come home so soon if I had killed one. The murderer happened to have the same name as mine."
When lies are repeated three times, people think they are true. Sometimes when lies are repeated thousands of times, they may even become the truth. This is what ancient Chinese people call "all people saying the same thing can melt gold. The damage can build to the point of dissolving bones."
The
ancient Chinese people emphasized careful remarks and behavior. As for
everything we say, we should consider whether it is a fact. We cannot
make random remarks and pass erring comments casually. Otherwise we
will only harm ourselves in the end.
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