河中漂流着一个瓦锅和一个铜锅。

瓦锅对铜锅说：“请离我远一些，不要靠近我。那怕是我自己不小心碰到你，我也会碰碎。”

“但是我有可能会和你接触，”瓦锅对铜锅说,“如果我离你太近，无论是你碰到我，或者是我自己不小心碰到你，我都会碎的。”

然后，瓦锅就漂走了。

英文对照

　　　　There were two pots on the bank of a river. One was made of brass, and the other was made of clay.
　　
　　　　When the water rose they both floated off down the river. The earthen pot tried to stay away from the brass one.
　　
　　　　So the brass pot cried out, "Fear nothing, friend, I will not hit you."
　　
　　　　"But I may come in contact with you," said the earthen pot. "If I come too close, whether I hit you or you hit me, I shall suffer for it."
　　
　　　　After that the earthen pot floated away.