法苑珠林 4.85

4.85

列子曰。孔子東游。見兩小兒辯鬪問其故。一小兒曰。我以日始出去人近而日中時遠。一小兒以為日初出時遠而日中時近也。一兒曰。日初出大如車蓋。及其中纔如槃蓋。此不為遠者小而近者大乎。一小兒曰。日初出滄滄涼涼。及其中如探湯。此不為近者熱而遠者涼乎。孔子不能決也。兩小兒笑曰。孰謂汝多智乎。

The Liezi says: 'Confucius was traveling east when he saw two young children arguing, and he asked them the reason. One child said: "I hold that when the sun first comes out, it is near to people, and at midday it is far." The other child held that when the sun first comes out it is far, and at midday it is near. One child said: "When the sun first comes out, it is as large as a carriage canopy, and when it reaches midday it is only as large as a plate or cover. Is this not that what is far is small, and what is near is large?" The other child said: "When the sun first comes out it is cool and chilly, and when it reaches midday it is like dipping a hand into boiling soup. Is this not that what is near is hot, and what is far is cool?" Confucius was unable to decide the matter. The two children laughed and said: "Who said you possess much wisdom?"'