Don't be too clever.

Author: Wang Zhigang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: This book provides an analysis of people who are "too smart" from different perspectives, aiming to convey the main idea that one shouldn't be overly clever. It is hoped that after reading this book, readers will gain a more comprehensive redefinition of the relationship between being a person and being clever. On one hand, they should be able to effectively deal with petty cleverness around them without being harmed, and on the other hand, if they notice signs of petty cleverness in themselves, they should promptly eliminate them.
A foolish person and a clever person arrive at a fork in the road. One path is wide and beautiful, while the other is narrow and unpleasant. The foolish person is eager to take the attractive path, but the clever person believes the narrow path is the shorter and safer one. They begin to argue, and in the end, the foolish person's viewpoint prevails. They choose the appealing path. Soon, they encounter robbers who steal their belongings and take them away. Later, both they and the robbers are captured and brought before a judge. The clever person argues that the foolish person should be punished because he was the one who decided to take the wrong path. The foolish person also defends himself, claiming that he is very foolish and that the clever person shouldn't have listened to him. If a clever person "obeys" a foolish one, it may be difficult to prove that the clever person is truly "clever." One shouldn't be overly clever.