Once upon a time, there was a king who ordered his officials: "Lead an elephant to me, and let several blind men feel it with their hands. Then ask each one of them to describe the shape of the elephant."

The officials led the elephant to the king. Several blind men surrounded it and felt it with their hands. The king asked them: "What do you think the elephant resembles?"

All these blind men strove to be the first to answer.

One blind man felt the elephant's tusk¹ and said: "The elephant resembles a long, long carrot."

One blind man felt the elephant's ear and said: "The elephant resembles a dustpan."

One blind man felt the elephant's head and said: "The elephant resembles a large stone."

One blind man felt the elephant's foot and said: "The elephant resembles a stone mortar²."

One blind man felt the elephant's back and said: "The elephant resembles a bed."

One blind man felt the elephant's belly³ and said: "The elephant resembles a water vat⁴."

"Ha! Ha! All of you are wrong." The last blind man pulled the elephant's tail and said: "Let me tell you that the elephant resembles a long, thin rope."

Upon this the king and his officials all burst into laughter.

从前，有一个国王，命令大臣们说：“你们给我牵一头大象来，让几个盲人用手去摸，每个人说出大象的模样。”

大臣们牵来了大象，几个盲人都围上去用手触摸，国王问盲人：“你们觉得大象的样子像什么？”

几个盲人都争先恐后地回答。

一个摸着大象的牙齿说：“大象好像一根长长的萝卜。”

一个摸着大象的耳朵说：“大象好像一只簸箕。”

一个摸着大象的头说：“大象好像是一块大石头。”

一个摸着大象的脚说：“大象好像是一只石臼。”

一个摸着大象的背脊说：“大象好像一张床。”

一个摸着大象的肚子说：“大象好像一只大水缸。”

“哈哈，你们说的都不对!”最后一个盲人拉着大象的尾巴说：“告诉你们，大象就像一根长长的、细细的绳子。”

国王和大臣们听了都哈哈大笑。