A clam opened its shell to sun itself. A snipe pecked at its flesh. The clam snapped shut, trapping the snipe's beak. The snipe said: "If it does not rain today or tomorrow, you will die." The clam said: "If I do not let go today or tomorrow, you will die." Neither would release. A fisherman walked up and caught them both.
蚌方出曝，鹬啄其肉，蚌合而钳其喙。鹬曰：「今日不雨，明日不雨，即有死蚌。」蚌曰：「今日不出，明日不出，即有死鹬。」两者不肯相舍，渔者得而并擒之。
蚌方出曝，鹬啄其肉，蚌合而钳其喙。鹬曰：「今日不雨，明日不雨，即有死蚌。」蚌曰：「今日不出，明日不出，即有死鹬。」两者不肯相舍，渔者得而并擒之。
Reflection & Analysis · 寓意解读
Core Wisdom
When two rivals fight to the death, the bystander collects the prize. The one who refuses to compromise loses everything.
This parable from the Zhàn Guó Cè was told to the King of Zhao to warn him against fighting with the state of Yan while Qin waited to devour both. The image is vivid and the logic is simple: mutual destruction benefits only the observer.