樂極生悲
樂極生悲
戰國時期，齊國有個叫淳于髡的人。他幽默機智，能說會道，給齊威王出過許多好主意，并且成功出使了許多其他的國家。
公元349年，楚國派出大批軍隊攻打齊國。齊威王叫淳于髡去趙國請求幫助。于是他帶著許多貴重的禮品去了趙國。趙王見了禮物十分高興，派了十萬士兵去援助齊國。那天晚上，楚王得到這消息，馬上撤回了自己的軍隊。齊威王松了一口氣，十分滿意淳于髡的表現，并決定設宴為他慶功。在宴會上，齊威王問淳于髡：“先生你喝多少酒會醉？” 淳于髡知道齊王有整晚飲酒的壞毛病，于是決定借這個機會勸誡他。他幽默地回答說：“我喝一升酒會喝醉，喝一百升酒也要喝醉。”齊威王聽了很奇怪。他問：“你喝一升已經醉了，怎么還能喝一百升呢？”
淳于髡就告訴齊王，在不同的情況下他的酒量會不一樣。他說：“喝酒讓我想到一句古話：喝醉了酒，人就沒了理智，太開心了，會發生悲慘的事。
所有的事情都是這個道理。不論你做什么，超過了限度，往往適得其反。”齊威王知道淳于髡在勸誡他，回答說：“你說得對，我會接受你的建議的。”
從那以后，齊威王改掉了整晚飲酒作樂的壞習慣。
Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow
Chunyu Kun (chún yú kūn 淳于髡) lived in the state of Qi (qí guó 齊國) during the Warring States Period (zhàn guó,475-221 BC). He was wise, humorous and eloquent. He skillfully advised the king on many occasions and successfully went to many states as an envoy.
In the year 349 BC, the State of Chu (chǔ guó 楚國) dispatched a large force to attack Qi. The king of Qi sent Chunyu Kun to the state of Zhao (zhào guó 趙國) to ask for help, with a lot of valuable gifts. The king of Zhao accpeted the gifts gladly and sent a hundred thousand troops to help Qi. The king of Chu withdrew his army that very night as soon as he got the news.The king of Qi was released and pleased with Chunyu Kun. He set a banquet for celebration. During the meal, the king asked Chunyu Kun, "How much wine can you drink before you're drunk, Sir?" Knowing the king had a bad habit of drinking all night, Chunyu Kun decided to take this chance to admonish the king. So he replied, "I get drunk when I drink ten litres or hundred."Puzzled, the king asked, "Since you are drunk after ten litres, how can you finish another ninty litres?"
Chunyu Kun then explained that he could drink different amounts of wine under different conditions. He said, "This occurs to me that when you drink to your limit, you get so drunk that you lose your sense; once joy reaches its height, then it's sorrow's turn. This is the rule for everything. Whatever you do, you are bound to end up in the opposite direction when you exceed the limits." Realizing Chunyu Kun was advising him, the king answered, "You are right. I will take your advice." From then on, the king of Qi gave up his bad habit of drinking and playing all night.
Since then, the phrase"Extreme Joy Begets Sorrow"was used to refer that something pretty sad is due to take place when someone is extremly happy.
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