As Chuang-tzu was fishing in the river P’u, two high officials arrived from the king of Ch’u and said, “Sir, the king requests that you come to the capital and serve as his prime minister.”
Without turning his head, Chuang-tzu answered, “I have heard that in Ch’u there is a sacred tortoise that died there, three thousand years ago. The king keeps its shell in the temple, wrapped in silk and encased in a golden box. Now if you were this tortoise, would you prefer to be venerated in such a way, or would you rather be alive again, crawling around in the mud?”
“The latter, certainly,” said the officials.
Chuang-tzu said, “Give my compliments to His Majesty, and tell him that I am happy right here, crawling around in the mud.”
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