英语名言小故事

英文小故事:1.The Ass and the Grasshopper 驴子与蚱蜢 AN ASS having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, "The dew." The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger. 驴子听见蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙动听的歌声所打动，自己也想能发出同样悦耳动听的声音，便 羡慕地问他们吃些什么，才能发出如此美妙的声音来。蚱蜢答道：“吃露水。”驴子便也只吃露水，没多久就饿死了。 2.life生命Some year summer afternoon, I the first company have sheared several hours firewood on the mountain, finally decided sits down eats a thing. I sit on a log, puts out together the sandwich, eats while looks into the distance from a high place that beautiful mountains and plains and the limpid lake water .有一年夏天的下午,我第一个公司柴剪切几个小时的一座山,终于决定坐下吃的东西。我坐在一个日志,并一起出去吃这块三明治,看着远处,从高处那美丽的山和原野和清澈的湖水。3.The Christmas story about Jesus关于耶稣的圣诞故事The Story of the Christ Child and Christmas When Rome was a great Empire ruled by Caesar Augustus and Israel was governed by King Herod, in the village of Nazareth lived Joseph and Mary. Joseph was a carpenter and Mary was a young virgin who would become his wife. Mary told Joseph of a dream in which she was visited by an angel who told her she had been chosen to bear the Son of God and his name was to be Jesus........当罗马帝国是一个伟大的奥古斯都凯撒和以色列统治被统治被希律王在拿撒勒村庄，住约瑟夫和玛丽。约瑟夫是个木匠，玛丽是一个年轻的处女谁将会成为他的妻子。玛丽说，她在其中一个是由天使是谁告诉她，她已被选定承担上帝的儿子，他的名字是耶稣约瑟访问梦想。……4.One a football一人一个足球Mum and her seven-years-old son are watching a football match .Suddenly,the son asks his mum,"mum, why do many uncles play with only one football? Why don't their mothers buy one for each of them?"妈妈和七岁的儿子在看足球赛。儿子突然问妈妈：“妈妈，那么多叔叔为什么只抢一个球？他们的妈妈为什么不为他们一人买一个球呢？”5.A physics Examination 一次物理考试Once in a physics examination, Nick finished the first question very soon, while his classmates were thinking it hard. The question was: When it thunders why do we see the lighting first, then hear the thunderrolls? Nick's answer: Because our eyes are before ears. 在一次物理考试,尼克好了第一个问题,很快的,而他的同学们还在苦苦思考。这个问题是:为什么在打雷时,我们总是先看到闪电后听到雷声? 尼克的回答是:因为眼睛在前,耳朵在后。名言:Our deeds determine us, much as we determine our deeds.什么样的人便决定了干什么样的事；同样，干什么样的事也决定了是什么样的人。When a man is wrapped up in himself he makes a pretty little package. 一个只顾自己的人不足以成大器。The secret of being miserable is to have leisure to bother about whether you are happy or not.痛苦的秘密在于有闲功夫担心自己是否幸福。Optimists always picture themselves accomplishing their goals.乐观主义者总是想象自己实现了目标的情景。Almost any situation ---good or bad--- is affected by the attitude we bring to.差不多任何一种处境-----无论是好是坏-----都受到我们对待处境的态度的影响。Perhaps you can’t control your job, but you may be able to make other changes in your life.或许你不能支配自己的工作，但你能够使生活发生转变。The Chinese word for crisis is divided into two characters, one meaning danger and the other meaning opportunity.中文的“危机“分为两个字，一个意味着危险，另外一个意味着机会。The tragedy of life is not so much what men suffer, but what they miss.生活的悲剧不在于人们受到多少苦，而在于人们错过了什么。I find life an exciting business ------ and most exciting when it is lived for others.我发现生活是令人激动的事情，尤其是为别人活着时。Young men make great mistakes in life; for one thing, they idealize love too much.年轻人一生中常犯大错误，其中之一就是把爱情太理想化了。警句：Adversity reveals genius; fortune conceals it.苦难显才华，好运隐天资Almost any situation---good or bad ---is affected by the attitude we bring to.差不多任何一种处境——无论是好是坏——都受到我们对待处境的态度的影响Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it虽然世界多苦难，但是苦难总是能战胜的As fruit needs not only sunshine but cold nights and chilling showers to ripen it, so character needs not only joy but trial and difficulty to mellow it. 水果不仅需要阳光，也需要凉夜。寒冷的雨水能使其成熟。人的性格陶冶不仅需要欢乐，也需要考验和困难Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the freedom to choose his attitude in any given set of circumstances.我可以拿走人的任何东西，但有一样东西不行，这就是在特定环境下选择自己的生活态度的自由Every tragedy makes heroes of common people.每场悲剧都会在平凡的人中造就出英雄来He who allows himself to be insulted, deserves to be. 自己甘愿受辱的人，受污辱也活该。I find life an exciting business and most exciting when it is lived for others. 我发现生活是令人激动的事情，尤其是为别人活着时。I wept when I was born, and every day shows why.我一生下来就开始哭泣，而每一天都表明我哭泣的原因In this world there is always danger for those who are afraid of it.对于害怕危险的人，这个世界上总是 危险的

No cross , no crown.不经历风雨，如何见彩虹。Fool's haste is no speed.欲速则不达。

英文小故事、小短文：①The Dog And The Shadow 狗和它的影子 A DOG, crossing a bridge over a stream with a piece of flesh in his mouth, saw his own shadow in the water, and took it for that of another Dog, with a piece of meat double his own in size. He therefore let go his own, and fiercely attacked the other Dog, to get his larger piece from him. He thus lost both: that which he grasped at in the water, because it was a shadow; and his own, because the stream swept it away. 一条狗嘴里叼块肉,来到一座桥上.它看见水里有自己的影子, 以为是另一条嘴里也叼着一块比自己那块肉大一倍的狗.它忙丢下自己嘴里的那块肉,猛力地攻击水里的狗.试图去抢它的肉.结果,它两块肉都得不到. 因为那只是一个影子,它自己的影子而已.真正的肉也被水冲走了②Which do you find more important, money or friends? B: Friends, of course. A: Why? B: I can always borrow money from friends. 钱和朋友 甲：你认为钱和朋友哪一个更重要？ 乙：当然是朋友。 甲：为什么？ 乙：我总可以从朋友那儿借到钱③A boy cried to his mother, "All the children make fun of me. They say I have a big head." "Don't listen to them," his mother said, "You have a beautiful head. Now stop crying and go to the store to buy twenty pounds of patotoes." "Where is the shopping bag?" "I haven't got one-use your hat 大头娃娃 一个小男孩向他母亲哭诉道：“他们都取笑我，说我脑袋大。” “别听他们的，”他母亲安慰道，“你有一个很漂亮的脑袋。好啦，别哭了，去商店买十斤土豆来。” “购物袋在哪儿？” “没购物袋了----就用你的帽子吧。” ④Everybody wishes (hopes) to get money so that he can maintain his livelihood. In other words, money is so useful that it is impossible for mankind to live without it. For this reason, we have an interesting proverb. It says “Money can make the world go around.” In a word, money is more powerful than anything else. However, money should not be wasted. It must be used for (some) proper purposes. We young men should form the good habit of not spending money in the wrong way. 每个人为了能够维持生活，所以都希望得到钱。换句话说，钱是非常有用，所以没有它人类即无法生活。基于此种理由，我们有一句有趣的谚语。它说有“钱能使鬼推磨”。一言以蔽之，钱比任何另外的东西更有力量。 然而，钱不应该被浪费掉。它必须用于正当的用途上。我们青年人应该养成不乱花钱的好习惯。⑤A bit of advice for those about to retire. If you are only 65, never move to a retirement community. Everybody else is in their 70s, 80s, or 90s. So when something has to be moved, lifted or loaded, they yell,'Get the kid.' 这里想对将要退休者提一点忠告。如果你只有65岁的话，千万别进退休社区。因为那里人人都七八十岁或者八九十岁了。每当要搬东西，抬东西或者装东西时，他们就叫喊，“让小的干吧。”⑥ "You are what you eat." Nutrition experts often use this saying to promote better eating habits. What we put in our mouths does become a part of us. But we can look at this statement another way. What we eat reflects who we are--as people and as a culture. Do you want to understand another culture? Then you ought to find out about its food. Learning about American food can give us a real taste of American culture. "你吃什么就成为什么样子"营养专家经常使用这句话来倡导更好的饮食习惯，入嘴的东西确实成为我们的一部分．但我们也可以从另一个角度来看这句话，我们所吃的反映出我们自己－－不论就人或文化而言．你想了解另一种文化吗？那么你应该去认识他们的食物．认识美国食物可以让我们得知美国文化的精髓。⑦Americans on the go also tend to eat a lot of "junk food." Potato chips, candy bars, soft drinks and other goodies are popular treats. Many people eat too many of these unhealthy snacks. But others opt for more healthy eating habits. Some even go "all natural." They refuse to eat any food prepared with chemicals or additives. 忙碌的美国人也趋向于吃一大堆「垃圾食物」。洋芋片、糖果、汽水和其它好吃的东西都颇受欢迎。许多人吃了太多这类不健康的零嘴，但是其它人则选择较健康的饮食习惯，有些人甚至选择「全天然」的食物，他们拒绝吃任何有化学制品或添加物的食物。 ⑧A poor pig Danny is a little pig . He is unhappy because he wants to leave home to see the world . It’s a sunny day . Danny goes away when his parents are sleeping . on his way he meets an elephant , a peacock and a rabbit . At last , he gets to a lake . He looks at his reflection in the water and says, “I wish I have an elephant’s nose , a peacock’s tail and a rabbit’s ears .” after a while , Danny’s wish comes true . He runs back excitedly . But his parents can’t recognize Danny , “Go away , you’re not our son .” Danny goes to the lake again . “ I just want to be a pig .” He says sadly .Danny waits and waits . He becomes a pig again . Danny runs back quickly . His parents hug and say , “ This is our lovely baby .” 可怜的小猪 丹尼是只小猪，为此他很不开心，他希望自己能够拥有大象的鼻子、孔雀的尾巴、小兔的耳朵。可是，当他的愿望实现的时候，爸爸妈妈却不认他了。可怜的小猪决定，还是变回自己原来的样子吧。⑨The notorious cheap skate finally decided to have a party. Explaining to a friend how to find his apartment, he said, "Come up to the fifth floor and ring the doorbell with your elbow. When the door open, push with your foot." "Why use my elbow and foot?" "Well, gosh," was the reply, "You're not coming empty-handed, are you?" 一个声名狼藉的小气鬼终于决定要请一次客了。他在向一个朋友解释怎么找到他家时说：“你上到五楼，用你的胳膊肘按门铃。门开了后，再用你的脚把门推开。” “为什么我要用我的肘和脚呢？” “天哪！” 吝啬鬼回答，“你总不会空着手来吧？”⑩ Not long after an old Chinese woman came back to China from her visit to her daughter in the States, she went to a city bank to deposit the US dollars her daughter gave her. At the bank counter, the clerk checked each note carefully to see if the money was real. It made the old lady out of patience. At last she could not hold any more, uttering. "Trust me, Sir, and trust the money. They are real US dollars. They are directly from America." 它们是从美国直接带来的 一位中国老妇人在美国看望女儿回来不久，到一家市银行存女儿送给她的美元。在银行柜台，银行职员认真检查了每一张钞票，看是否有假。 这种做法让老妇人很不耐烦，最后实在忍耐不住说：“相信我，先生，也请你相信这些钞票。这都是真正的美元，它们是从美国直接带来的。” 名言警句：1.When do it,do it best!要么不做，要做就做最好2.Adversity reveals genius; fortune conceals it. (Horace, ancient Roman poet)苦难显才华，好运隐天资。(古罗马诗人 贺拉斯) 3.Although the world is full of suffering, it is full also of the overcoming of it. (Hellen Keller, American writer)虽然世界多苦难，但是苦难总是能战胜的(美国作家 海伦·凯勒) 4.Every tragedy makes heroes of common people. (Normna Stephens, American writer)每场悲剧都会在平凡的人中造就出英雄来。(美国作家 斯蒂芬斯 N) 5.He who allows himself to be insulted, deserves to be. (F.C.Comford, British writer)自己甘愿受辱的人，受污辱也活该。(英国作家 科福德 F C) 6.I wept when I was born, and every day shows why.(Jack London, American novelist)我一生下来就开始哭泣，而每一天都表明我哭泣的原因。(美国小说家 杰克·伦敦) 7.Light troubles speak; great troubles keep silent. (Lucius Annaeus Seneneca, Ancient Roman Philosopher)小困难，大声叫嚷；大困难，闷声不响。(古罗马哲学家 尼加 L A)8. Mishaps are like knives that either serve us or cut us as we grasp them by the handle or blade.(James Russell Lowell, American poetess and critic)灾难就像刀子，握住刀柄就可以为我们服务，拿住刀刃则会割破手。(美国女诗人、批评家 洛威尔 J R) 9.No pain , no palm; no thorns , no throne ; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown. (William Penn, British admiral)没有播种，何来收获；没有辛劳，何来成功；没有磨难，何来荣耀；没有挫折，何来辉煌。(英国海军上将 佩恩 W) 10.Optimists always picture themselves accomplishing their goals. (Lucius Anaeus Seneca, Ancient Roman philosopher)乐观主义者总是想象自己实现了目标的情景。(古罗马哲学家 西尼加 L A) 希望对你有帮助拉O(∩_∩)O~

1、《文天祥少年正气》

南宋末年著名的民族英雄文天祥少年时生活困苦，在好心人的帮助下才有机会读书。

Wen Tianxiang, a famous national hero in the late Southern Song Dynasty, lived in hardship when he was a teenager, and only with the help of good-hearted people did he have the opportunity to read.

一次，文天祥被有钱的同学误会是小偷，他据理力争，不许别人践踏自己的尊严，终于证明了自己的清白，而且通过这件事，更加树立了文天祥金榜题名的志向。

Once, Wen Tianxiang was misunderstood as a thieves by wealthy classmates. He argued that he was not allowed to be trampled on his dignity, and finally proved his innocence. Through this incident, Wen Tianxiang's ambition to be named in the gold roll was set up.

2、《陈平忍辱苦读书》

陈平西汉名相，少时家贫，与哥哥相依为命。

Chen Ping, a famous minister in the Western Han Dynasty, lived in poverty when he was young and depended on his brother.

为了秉承父命，光耀门庭，不事生产，闭门读书，却为大嫂所不容，为了消弭兄嫂的矛盾，面对一再羞辱，隐忍不发。

In order to uphold his father's fate, glorify his family, do not produce and study behind closed doors, he was not tolerated by his sister-in-law. In order to eliminate the contradiction between his brother and sister-in-law, he faced repeated humiliation and hiding.

随着大嫂的变本加厉，终于忍无可忍，出走离家，欲浪迹天涯，被哥哥追回后，又不计前嫌，阻兄休嫂，在当地传为美谈。

With the increasing cost of his sister-in-law, he finally could not bear to leave home, wandering around the world, was recovered by his brother, regardless of past suspicions, to stop his brother and sister-in-law, in the local spread as a beautiful talk.

终有一老着，慕名前来，免费收徒授课，学成后，辅佐刘邦，成就了一番霸业。

Eventually, as an old man, Muming came to teach free apprenticeship. After learning, he assisted Liu Bang and achieved some hegemonic career.

3、《陆羽弃佛从文》

唐朝著名学者陆羽，从小是个孤儿，被智积禅师抚养长大。

Lu Yu, a famous scholar in the Tang Dynasty, was raised by Zen Master Zhiji as an orphan.

陆羽虽身在庙中，却不愿终日诵经念佛,而是喜欢吟读诗书。陆羽执意下山求学，遭到了禅师的反对。

Although Lu Yu was in the temple, he did not want to recite Buddhist sutras and chant Buddhas all day long, but preferred to recite poetry and books. Lu Yu persisted in going downhill to study, which was opposed by Zen master.

禅师为了给陆羽出难题，同时也是为了更好地教育他，便叫他学习冲茶。

In order to solve Lu Yu's problems and educate him better, Zen Master asked him to learn how to make tea.

在钻研茶艺的过程中，陆羽碰到了一位好心的老婆婆，不仅学会了复杂的冲茶的技巧，更学会了不少读书和做人的道理。

In the process of studying tea art, Lu Yu met a kind wife. She not only learned the complicated skills of making tea, but also learned a lot of principles of reading and being a man.

当陆羽最终将一杯热气腾腾的苦丁茶端到禅师面前时，禅师终于答应了他下山读书的要求。后来，陆羽撰写了广为流传的《茶经》，把祖国的茶艺文化发扬光大!

When Lu Yu finally brought a cup of steaming Kuding tea to Zen Master, Zen Master finally agreed to his request to go down to study. Later, Lu Yu wrote the widely circulated "Tea Classic" to carry forward the tea culture of the motherland.

4、《少年包拯学断案》

包拯包青天，自幼聪颖，勤学好问，尤喜推理断案，其家父与知县交往密切，包拯从小耳濡目染，学会了不少的断案知识。

Bao Zheng Bao Qingtian was smart, diligent and inquisitive since childhood. He especially liked reasoning and judging cases. His father had close contact with Zhixian County. Bao Zheng learned a lot of knowledge about judging cases from childhood.

尤其在焚庙杀僧一案中，包拯根据现场的蛛丝马迹，剥茧抽丝。

Especially in the case of burning temples and killing monks, Bao Zheng, according to the spider tracks on the scene, stripped cocoons and drew silk.

排查出犯罪嫌疑人后，又假扮阎王，审清事实真相，协助知县缉拿凶手，为民除害。

After identifying the suspects, he pretended to be the King of Yan and tried to find out the truth, helping Zhixian to arrest the murderers and kill the people.

他努力学习律法刑理知识，为长大以后断案如神，为民伸冤，打下了深厚的知识基础。

He worked hard to learn the knowledge of law and punishment, and laid a solid knowledge foundation for judging cases and defending people's grievances when he grew up.

5、《林则徐对联立志》

林则徐小时候就天资聪慧，两次机会下，作了两幅对联，这两幅对联表达了林则徐的远大志向。

When Lin Zexu was a child, he was talented and wise. He made two couplets under two opportunities. These two couplets expressed Lin Zexu's ambition.

林则徐不仅敢于立志，而且读书刻苦，长大后成就了一番大事业，受到了后世的敬仰。

Lin Zexu not only dared to make a decision, but also studied hard. When he grew up, he made great achievements and was admired by later generations.

破釜沉舟 During the late years of the Qin Dynasty.Xiang Yu led a rebellion. After crossing the Zhang River. Xiang Yu ordered his men to sink all their boats and break their cooking pots. He issued each soldier three days rations and warned them that there was no way to retreat; the only thing they could do to survive was to advance and fight. After nine fierce battles, the Qin army was finally defeated. This idiom is used to indicate ones firm determination to achieve ones goal at any cost. 班门弄斧 Lu Ban was supposed to be a consummate carpenter in ancient times. It is said that he once carved a wooden phoenix that was so lifelike that it actually flew in the sky for three days. Thus it was so considered the height of folly to show off ones skill with an axe in front of Lu Ban. This idiom excoriates those who show off their slight accomplishments in front of experts. 杯弓蛇影 In the Jin Dynasty (265-420), a man called Yue Guang once invited a friend to have a drink at his home. When the friend lifted his cup, he saw a small snake in the wine, yet he forced himself to drink. Back home, the friend recalled the incident, and felt so disgusted that he fell ill. Hearing about this, Yue Guang invited his friend again. He asked him to sit in the same place and drink. Then his friend saw that he image of the snake in the cup was actually the reflection of a bow hung on the wall. Realizing this, the friend recovered quickly. This idiom indicates a condition of being over-suspicious bringing trouble on oneself. 病入膏肓 In the Spring and Autumn Period, King Jing of the State of Jin fell ill. One night he dreamed that the disease turned into two small figures talking beside him. One said, "Im afraid the doctor will hurt us." The other said, "Dont worry. We can hide above huang and below GAO. Then the doctor will do nothing to us." The next day, having examined the king, the doctor said, "Your disease is incurable, I am afraid, Your Majesty. Its above huang and below GAO. Where no medicine can reach." This idiom indicates a hopeless condition. 草木皆兵 In AD 383. the king of Former Qin, Fu Jian, led a huge army to attack Eastern Jin. After losing the first round of fighting , Fu Jian looked down from a city wall, and was terrified when he saw the formidable battle array of the Eastern Jin army, and then looking at the moutain around, he mistook the grass and trees for enemy soldiers. As a result, when the nervous Fu Jian led his army into battle, it suffered a crushing defeat. This idiom describes how one can defeat oneself by imagining difficulties. 惊弓之鸟 In the Warring States Period, there was a man in the State of Wei called Geng Lei. One day he said to the king:" I can shoot down birds by simply plucking my bowstring." When the king expressed doubt, Geng lei pointed his bow at a wild goose flying in the sky, twanged the bowstring, and the goose fell to the ground, Geng Lei said, "This goose has been hurt in the past. Hearing the twang of the bowstring, it assumed that it was doomed. O it simply gave up trying to live." This idiom means that if one has been frightened in the past ones will may become paralyzed in a similar situation. 画饼充饥 In the Three Kingdoms Period(220-280), the king of the State of Wei. Cao Rui, wanted to select a very capable man to work for him. He said to his ministers: "When choosing a talented person, always beware of one with a false reputation is just like a picture of a cake; it cant relieve hunger." Later, this idiom came to be used to mean comforting oneself with unrealistic thoughts,without solving practical problems. 朝三暮四 In the Spring and Autumn Period, a man in the State of Song raised monkeys. The monkeys could understand what he said. As the man became poor, he wanted to reduce the monkeys food. He first suggested that he gave them four acorns in the morning and three in the evening. Thereupon, the monkeys protested angrily. Then their owner said, "How about the three in the morning and four in the everning?" The monkeys were satisfied with that. This idiom originally meant to befool others with tricks. Later it is used to mean to keep changing ones mind. 打草惊蛇 Once a man wanted to go to the south, but his carrage was heading north. A passer-by asked him:"If you are going to the south,why is your chariot heading north?" The man answered,"My horse is good at running, my driver is highly skilled at driving a carriage, and I have enough money." The man didnt consider that the direction might be wrong; the better his conditions were, the further he was away from his destination. The idiom derived from this story indicates that ones action was the opposite effect to ones intention. 南辕北辙 Once a man wanted to go to the south, but his carrage was heading north. A passer-by asked him:"If you are going to the south,why is your chariot heading north?" The man answered,"My horse is good at running, my driver is highly skilled at driving a carriage, and I have enough money." The man didnt consider that the direction might be wrong; the better his conditions were, the further he was away from his destination. The idiom derived from this story indicates that ones action was the opposite effect to ones intention. --------另外的资料-------- 1。八仙过海，各显神通(Like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea,each one shows his or her special prowess) According to the Chinese folk legend,there were Eight Immortals named Han Zhongli,Zhang Guolao,Han Xiangzi,Li Tieguai,Cao Guojiu,Lu Dongbin,Lan Caihe and He xianggu in ancient China. Once the Eight Immortals were invited to attend an Immortality Peach Party given by the Queen Mother of the Western Heaven. When they reached the bank of the Eastern Sea,there were no ships for them to go across the vast sea at all.Then Lu Dongbin suggested that each of them used his or her treasure to ride across the sea. They all agreed. Then everyone threw a treasure on the sea to ride it across the sea,showing their mysterious abilities. Now we use it to describe that in collective labour,everyone shows his own special ablity to complete the common task. 根据中国民间传说，古时候有八位神仙，就是汉钟离、张果老、韩湘子、铁拐李、曹国舅、吕洞宾、蓝采和、何仙姑。 一次，他们应王母娘娘的邀请，赴西天参加蟠桃盛会。 他们来到东海之滨，必须过海才能去赴会，而当时又无渡船。吕洞宾建议，每人用自己所带宝物渡海，大家都同意。 后多用此典比喻在集体的工作中，每个人都尽自己的长处以及特点来完成共同的事业。 2。夜郎自大（ludicrous conceit of the King of Yelang-parochial arrogance) It is recorded that in order to keep in touch with the countries of the Southwest and find the passageway of going to India,Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had sent Wang Yanyu and others to take a small road to find the passageway.On the way,they met the King of the Kingdom of Dian,who asked Wang a question:"Which is bigger,the Han Dynasty or out Kingdom?"Wang explained that there were dozens of prefectures in the Han Dynasty,and the territory of Dian was just like one of them.Then they met the King of Yelang who also asked the same questiong.In fact,Yelang was a very small Kingdom in the Southwest.Its territory was just like a count of Han\'s.Actually they always thought that they had a vast territory and didn\'t know anything about the Han Dynasty. 为了加强同西南邻国的联系和寻找去印度的道路，汉武帝派使者王然于等人抄小路往西南寻求通往印度之路。在途中他们见到滇国国王，国王问使者：“汉朝和我们国家比，哪一个大？”王然于解释说，汉朝有几十个郡，像你们滇国也不过是其中一个郡吧！ 到了夜郎国，夜郎国王也这样问。其实，夜郎国只是西南部（今贵州省西北部）的一个小国，其面积只相当于汉朝的一个县，。原来他们一直都认为自己的地盘大，对汉朝的情况根本不了解。 后用此典比喻妄自尊大。 3。自相矛盾：A man of the state of Chu had a spear and a shield for sale. He was loud in praises of his shield. "My shield is so strong that nothing can pierce it through." He also sang praises of his spear. "My spear is so strong that it can pierce through anything." "What would happen," he was asked, "if your spear is used to pierce your shield?" It is impossible for an impenetrable shield to coexist with a spear that finds nothing impenetrable. 古时候，矛和盾都是作战用的武器。矛用来刺杀敌人，盾则用来保护身体，以免被对方的矛刺中。 传说很久以前，楚国有个卖兵器的人，在市场上卖矛和盾。为了让人家愿意买他的货，他先举起盾向人们夸口道：“你们看，我的盾是世上最坚固的盾，任何锋利的东西都不能刺穿它。”接着又举起他的矛，向人吹嘘说：“你们再看看我的矛，它锋利无比，无坚不摧，无论多么坚硬的盾，都挡不住它，一刺就穿！” 围观的人听了他的话都觉得很好笑，人群中有人问道：“依你的说法，你的矛无论怎样坚硬的盾都能刺穿，而你的盾又是无论多么锋利的矛也不能把它刺穿。那就拿你的矛来刺你的盾吧，看看结果怎么样？” 卖兵器的人听了张口结舌，无从回答，只好拿着矛和盾走了。 “自相矛盾”就是由这个故事演变而来的。现在人们用它来比喻做事、说话前后自相抵触。