The Tiger in the City

Evelyn Reid

Jun 29, 2017 | Tao du Jour

A sage was dining as a guest of the district magistrate.

“Sir,” said the sage. “Suppose you were eating your dinner and a man rushed up and told you that there was a tiger in the middle of the city. Would you believe him?”

“Just one man?”

“Just one.”

“No, I wouldn’t believe there was a tiger in the city if I only heard it from one man.”

“What about two men?”

“Just two?”

“Just two.”

“What about two men?”

“Just two?”

“Just two.”

The magistrate took longer to answer this time. Finally he said, “No, no, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t believe it if I only heard it from two men.”

“What about three?”

“Yes,” said the magistrate. “If I heard it from three men, I’d believe it.”

“That’s interesting,” said the sage, “because there’s still no tiger in the city.”

(Chinese fable translated by Carol Deppe)

 

The Tiger in the City

Evelyn Reid

Jun 29, 2017 | Tao du Jour

A sage was dining as a guest of the district magistrate.

“Sir,” said the sage. “Suppose you were eating your dinner and a man rushed up and told you that there was a tiger in the middle of the city. Would you believe him?”

“Just one man?”

“Just one.”

“No, I wouldn’t believe there was a tiger in the city if I only heard it from one man.”

“What about two men?”

“Just two?”

“Just two.”

The magistrate took longer to answer this time. Finally he said, “No, no, I don’t think so. I wouldn’t believe it if I only heard it from two men.”

“What about three?”

“Yes,” said the magistrate. “If I heard it from three men, I’d believe it.”

“That’s interesting,” said the sage, “because there’s still no tiger in the city.”

(Chinese fable translated by Carol Deppe)