A merchant boasted of his shield: "Nothing in the world can pierce it!" Then he praised his spear: "This spear can pierce anything!"
A bystander asked: "What happens when you strike your shield with your spear?" The merchant had no answer — his own words had defeated each other.
楚人有鬻盾与矛者，誉之曰：「吾盾之坚，物莫能陷也。」又誉其矛曰：「吾矛之利，于物无不陷也。」
或曰：「以子之矛陷子之盾，何如？」其人弗能应也。
楚人有鬻盾与矛者，誉之曰：「吾盾之坚，物莫能陷也。」又誉其矛曰：「吾矛之利，于物无不陷也。」
或曰：「以子之矛陷子之盾，何如？」其人弗能应也。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
Consistency is the foundation of credibility. Overstate your claims, and your own contradictions will become your undoing.
Han Feizi used this story to expose contradictions in philosophical arguments. But the parable transcends its origins — it applies to anyone who makes absolute claims without considering their logical consequences.
The word "矛盾" (máo dùn, literally "spear-shield") became the Chinese word for "contradiction." Every time a Chinese speaker says "矛盾," they invoke this ancient merchant and his impossible weapon.