There was a scholar in the Zhou Dynasty who had tried several times in his life to seek for an official post, but failed again and again till his temples turned white.

One day, as he was walking on the road, he looked back upon the past and shed tears of sorrow. Someone asked him:

He replied:

He replied:

"Why are you weeping?"

"Several times I have failed to win recognition. Now I am old and no longer have any opportunity. That is why I am weeping."

The man asked again:

"Then how is it that you have never won recognition?"

"When I was young, I studied the classics hard and had all the literary qualifications. When I sought for an official post, unexpectedly the king liked to appoint old men. After the king died, his successor liked to appoint warriors. I made a determined effort to learn martial arts, but when I had learned the military skills, the king who liked martial arts passed away. Now the new king likes to appoint young men, but I am already old. Thus I have never won recognition in my whole life and have never held an official post."