Translation: During the Warring States Period, there was a man in Chu State who sold spears and shields. He first boasted that his shield was very strong, saying, “No matter what you use, it can’t be broken!” Then, he boasted that his spear was very sharp, saying, “No matter what, it can be broken!” People in the market questioned him, “What will happen to your shield if you use your spear to pierce it?” The man couldn’t answer. Everyone laughed at him. It is impossible for an unbreakable shield and a spear that can’t pierce the shield to coexist. This story warns people: It is unlikely that an unbreakable shield and an indestructible spear can coexist in the world. This man in Chu State exaggerated the role of the spear and shield unilaterally, and as a result, he was unable to justify himself. It is a metaphor for saying and doing things that are inconsistent and cannot justify themselves. You should think twice before doing anything or speaking.
译文：在战国时期，楚国有个卖矛和盾的人，他先夸耀自己的盾很坚硬，说：“无论用什么东西都无法破坏它！”然后，他又夸耀自己的矛很锐利，说：“无论什么东西都能被其破坏！”，市场上的人质问他：“如果用你的矛去刺你的盾，它们将怎么样？”，那个人无法回答。众人嘲笑他。无法被刺穿的盾牌和没有刺不破盾的长矛，是不可能共同存在的。这个故事告诫人们：世上不大可能共同存在牢不可破的盾和没有无坚不摧的矛，这个楚国人片面地夸大了矛与盾的作用，结果出现无法自圆其说的局面。比喻说话做事前后抵触，不能自圆其说。做事说话皆应三思而后行。
《古代寓言·自相矛盾》
楚有鬻盾与矛者。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：“以子这矛，陷子之盾，何如？”
其人弗能应也。
——《韩非子》
The Man who Sold Spears and Shields
In the state of Chu lived a man who sold shields and spears.
“My shields are strong,” he boasted, “that nothing can pierce them. My spears are so sharp that there is nothing they cannot pierce.”
“What if one of your spears strikes one of your shields?” someone asked him.
The man had no answer to that.
Han Fei Zi
