矛盾

矛盾

Paradox of the Spear and the Shield / Contradiction


图片来源：“学习强国”学习平台

可以刺穿任何东西的矛和没有任何东西能够刺穿的盾。“矛盾”之说出自《韩非子》。可以刺穿任何东西的矛和没有任何东西能够刺穿的盾，这两个命题是不相容的。一个人不能同时肯定这样两个不相容的命题。后世即以“矛盾”指称事物之间的对立关系，也意指言行自相抵触。

The term comes from a story in "Hanfeizi." In the story, mao (矛) is a spear that is said to be able to pierce anything; dun (盾) is a shield that is said to be able to be pierced by nothing. Mao and dun are a paradox to each other, so a person cannot affirm both propositions at the same time. Later, the term came to mean "contradiction," or "inconsistency between speech and action."

引例 Citation：

◎楚人有鬻盾与矛者，誉之曰：“吾盾之坚，物莫能陷也。”又誉其矛曰：“吾矛之利，于物无不陷也。”或曰：“以子之矛，陷子之盾，何如？”其人弗能应也。夫不可陷之盾与无不陷之矛，不可同世而立。（《韩非子·难一》）

有一位楚国人，既卖矛又卖盾，他夸赞自己的盾说：“我的盾坚硬无比，没有任何东西能刺穿它。”又夸赞自己的矛说：“我的矛非常锋利，任何东西都可以刺穿。”有人问他：“那如果用你的矛刺你的盾，结果会怎么样呢？”楚国人无法回答。任何东西都无法刺穿的盾和能够刺穿一切的矛，不可能同时存在于这个世界中。

A man from the State of Chu was selling spears and shields. He boasted about his shield, saying "It is so tough that nothing can pierce it." He then boasted about his spear, saying, "It is so sharp that it can pierce anything." Someone asked him, "What will happen if you pierce your shield using your spear?" The man was speechless. A spear that can pierce anything and a shield that can be pierced by nothing cannot exist at the same time. (Hanfeizi)