苛政猛于虎Tyranny is Fiercer than a Tiger

Tyranny is Fiercer than a Tiger（成语 苛政猛于虎 英文)


Confucius(1) was passing by at the foot of Taishan Mountain when he heard a woman wailing before a grave. As he bent over the front bar of his carriage listening with concern, he sent his disciple Zi Lu over to inquire.

"From your crying we presume you have met many misfortunes,"Zi Lu said to the woman.

"Exactly. Some time ago my father-in-law was killed by a tiger, then later my hushand, and now my son." the woman responded.

"Then, why hasn't she chosen to quit this place?" wondered Confucius, putting this question to her through Zi Lu.

"Because this place is not plagued by tyranny," came the woman's answer.

At this Confucius admonished his disciples,"Keep this in mind-tyranny is indeed fiercer than a tiger."

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(1) 551-479 BC

苛政猛于虎(chinese idioms)

孔子路过泰山边，有个妇人在坟墓旁哭得很悲伤。孔子扶着车前的伏手板听着，派子路问她说：“你这样哭，真好象不止一次遭遇到不幸了。”她就说：“是啊！以前我公公死在老虎口中，我丈夫也死在这虎上，现在我儿子又被虎咬死了。”孔子说：“为什么不离开这儿呢？”回答说：“这儿没苛政。”孔子说：“弟子们记着，苛政比老虎还厉害！”

苛政猛于虎，形容政治的残暴。