双语笑话：实际经验胜于理论空谈

　　Practical Experience is Superiorto Empty Theories

　　实际经验胜于理论空谈

　　In ancient China, a general was dying and the king asked him, “After your demise, who would be an appropriate successor to you?” Then, instead of his own son, the general recommended someone else.

　　以前中国有一位大将军，他临终时，国王问他：“你死了以后，谁能接替你的工作呢？”这位将军没有向国王推荐自己的儿子，而推荐另外一个人。

　　Surprised, the king asked, “Your son has comprehensively studied military books since childhood. His strategic analyses are very convincing. Wouldn’t he be the most suitable candidate?”

　　“No! No! That son of mine can only talk big,” said the general. “Although he’s well-versed in military theories, he has absolutely no practical experience on the battlefield. This is why I don’t recommend him.”

　　国王听了很惊讶，问道：“你的儿子从小熟读兵书，谈起兵法来头头是道，不是他最合适吗？”将军回答：“不、不！我那个儿子只会讲大话，他虽然懂得兵法的理论，但完全没有实际上战场的经验，所以我不推荐他。”

　　However, when the general died the king didn’t follow his advice. He firmly believed that the general’s son would be superb, given his fluent responses and familiarity with strategic deployments and appointed him general. As a result, the son suffered defeat after defeat, much unlike his invincible father because he had no practical experience in warfare, and relied solely on military books for his knowledge.

　　后来将军往生以后，国王没有听从他的建议，仍执意认为他的儿子很优秀，对兵法一清二楚，能够对答如流，所以就任用他的儿子为大将。结果这个儿子果真百战百败，不像他的父亲一样百战百胜，因为他完全没有实地上战场的经验，只是光靠念书而已。