"The Pear That Has No Owner: A Man Born for Principles"
[Source] History of Yuan - Biography of Xu Heng
[Meaning] Refusing to eat pears from an unattended tree. This metaphor describes a person who can resist external distractions and temptations, steadfastly adhering to their own conduct and moral integrity.
[Historical Anecdote]
At the end of the Southern Song Dynasty, there was a young man named Xu Heng, who was well known in his hometown for his intelligence and diligence. Once, Xu Heng was traveling alone during a scorching summer day, when the sun blazed like a fireball, baking the earth. After walking for a long time, he was drenched in sweat and extremely thirsty. Along the way, he encountered several merchants resting in the shade of a large tree. These merchants were also hot and thirsty, yet had no water.
At that moment, a man approached from afar, cradling a bundle of pears in his arms. He announced, "There's a pear tree up ahead—quick, go pick some to quench your thirst!" Hearing this, the merchants hastily gathered their belongings and rushed off to pick pears, but Xu Heng remained still.
A merchant, puzzled, asked, "Why aren't you going to pick any pears?"
Xu Heng inquired, "Is the owner of the pear tree here?"
The merchants replied, "The owner isn't here. With such hot weather, picking a few pears to quench our thirst isn't a big deal."
Xu Heng replied earnestly, "Even if the pear tree is currently unattended, does that mean we have no self-restraint? My conscience binds me. Something that isn't mine, and without the owner's permission, I absolutely will not steal it."
Ignoring Xu Heng, the merchants went ahead and picked the pears. Seeing this, Xu Heng could only walk on alone, enduring the heat and thirst as he continued his journey. Meanwhile, the merchants who had eaten the pears mocked him as a fool, lacking flexibility and practicality.
Xu Heng steadfastly upheld his principles, persisting in diligent study under any circumstances. Eventually, he became a renowned scholar at the turn from the Song to the Yuan Dynasty.
[Life Lesson]
Self-discipline and principles are essential for every person. Someone without principles cannot achieve great things. Only by constantly examining one's actions and restraining one's desires can a person obtain what is truly valuable to them and continually improve through the process of self-perfection.