THE BLIND TORTOISE IN THE WELL.
A blind tortoise lived in a well. Another tortoise, a native of the ocean, in his inland travels happened to tumble into this well. The blind one asked of his new comrade whence he came.
"From the sea."
Hearing of the sea, he of the well swam round a little circle and asked—
"Is the water of the ocean as large as this?"
"Larger," replied he of the sea.
The well tortoise then swam two-thirds of the well, and asked if the sea was as big as that.
"Much larger than that," said the sea tortoise.
"Well, then," asked the blind tortoise, "is the sea as large as this whole well?"
"Larger," said the sea tortoise.
"If that is so," said the well tortoise, "how big, then, is the sea?"
The sea tortoise replied, "You having never seen any other water than that of your well, your capability of understanding is small. As to the ocean, though you spent many years in it, you would never be able to explore the half of it, nor to reach the limit, and it is utterly impossible to compare it with this well of yours."
The well tortoise replied, "It is impossible that there can be a larger water than this well. You are simply praising up your native place with vain words."
How many people there are like the tortoise in the well!