Duke Jing spoke to Yanzi: "In the Eastern Sea, there are waters which are red, and there are jujubes in it, which flower but do not bear fruit; what are they?" Yanzi replied: "In olden times, Duke Miao ruled all under heaven riding on a dragon boat, and used a yellow cloth to wrap and steam jujubes, and when he reached the Eastern Sea, he wrung this cloth; because of that cloth, the waters are red; because he steamed the jujubes, they flower but do not bear fruit." The Duke spoke: "I invented everything I asked you about, so how could you reply?" Yanzi answered: "I have heard it said that when someone invents a question, you can also invent an answer."
Mandarin
如果有了正确的理论,只是把它空谈一阵,束之高阁,并不实行,那末,这种理论再好也是没有意义的。
如果有了正確的理論,只是把它空談一陣,束之高閣,並不實行,那末,這種理論再好也是沒有意義的。
rú guǒ yǒu le zhèng què de lǐ lùn , zhǐ shì bǎ tā kōng tán yī zhèn , shù zhī gāo gé , bìng bù shí xíng , nà me , zhè zhǒng lǐ lùn zài hǎo yě shì méi yǒu yì yì de .
If we have a correct theory but merely prate about it, pigeonhole it and do not put it into practice, then that theory, however good, is of no significance.