Duke Ching Went Out Hunting One Day

Duke Ching went out hunting one day and saw a tiger on the mountain. Going down from the mountain to a lake he caught sight of a snake. Upon returning home, he went to Yen-Tzu and related what he saw. He asked: “Is that considered a bad omen?” Yen Tzu replied: “There are only three things in the category of bad omens for a country, and that is not included. The first is to have wise men and not to know them. The second is to know them but not to use them. And third is to use them but not to confide in them. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #14554).