The Fable of the Man Who Hid His Ears to Steal a Bell: A Lesson in Futility and Delusion，掩耳盗铃英语故事英语带翻译

In the ancient kingdom of Ming, there was a story that circulated widely among the people. It was the tale of a man named Zhang, who was known for his cunning and his mischief. Zhang was a bell ringer at the local temple, but his heart was not in his work. He dreamt of wealth and fortune, and he was always looking for a way to get rich quick.

One day, Zhang heard of a bell that was said to possess magical powers. It was said that the bell could bring good luck and prosperity to anyone who owned it. The bell was kept in the royal palace, and it was a symbol of the kingdom's wealth and power. Zhang knew that if he could steal the bell, he would become rich beyond his wildest dreams.

However, the palace was heavily guarded, and Zhang knew that he would need a clever plan to succeed. He thought for a long time and finally came up with a scheme. He would steal the bell at night when the guards were asleep. But there was one problem: he was afraid of loud noises, and he knew that the bell would ring loudly when he touched it.

To solve this problem, Zhang had an idea. He would cover his ears before he touched the bell, so that he would not hear the sound of the bell ringing. He thought that by doing this, he could steal the bell without anyone noticing.

On the night of the heist, Zhang sneaked into the palace. He found the bell and approached it carefully. As he reached out to touch it, he quickly covered his ears with his hands. Then, with a quick motion, he lifted the bell and ran as fast as he could back to his hiding place.

When Zhang got back, he was overjoyed. He thought he had successfully stolen the bell. But as soon as he took his hands away from his ears, he heard the bell ringing. The sound was so loud that it echoed through the streets of the city. The guards heard it and immediately set out to search for the thief.

Zhang was in a panic. He realized that his plan had failed. He had not only failed to steal the bell, but he had also made himself very obvious. The guards caught him shortly after and took him to the king.

The king, a wise and discerning ruler, listened to Zhang's story. He laughed and said, "You see, Zhang, you have made a mistake. The bell can only ring if it is touched. Covering your ears would not stop the bell from ringing. You have tried to hide from the truth, but it has caught up with you."

The king then addressed the people of the kingdom. He said, "This story teaches us a valuable lesson. No matter how hard we try to hide from reality, it will always find a way to catch up with us. We must face the truth and learn from our mistakes."

The people of Ming were moved by the king's words. They realized that they could not hide from their problems by ignoring them. They had to face their challenges head-on and work together to overcome them.

Zhang, for his part, was humbled by his experience. He realized that his cleverness was no match for the laws of nature and the truth. He spent the rest of his life working at the temple, not as a bell ringer, but as a humble custodian of wisdom.

The fable of Zhang and the bell became a cautionary tale, reminding people of all ages to face their fears and to accept the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. It is a story that continues to resonate today, teaching us that delusion and denial are paths to futility, while honesty and courage lead to wisdom and success.

In conclusion, the fable of the man who hid his ears to steal a bell is a timeless tale that teaches us about the nature of truth, the consequences of denial, and the importance of facing our fears. It serves as a reminder that while we may try to掩耳盗铃（hide our ears to steal a bell）in our own lives, the truth will always find a way to ring out loud and clear.

Once upon a time, there was a man who was extremely greedy and shortsighted. One day, he happened to pass by a rich man's house and saw a beautiful bell hanging at the door. The bell was so exquisite that it immediately caught his attention.

He thought to himself, "If I can steal this bell and take it home, it will be a great treasure." However, as soon as he touched the bell, it made a loud noise. He was startled and quickly withdrew his hand. He realized that if he wanted to steal the bell, he had to find a way to prevent it from making a noise.

After thinking for a long time, he came up with a "brilliant" idea. He decided to cover his ears with his hands. He believed that as long as he couldn't hear the sound, the bell would also not make any noise. So, he covered his ears tightly and reached out to steal the bell again.

But the reality was not as he expected. Although he couldn't hear the sound with his ears covered, the bell still made a loud noise, and the noise alerted the people in the house. They quickly ran out and caught the thief red-handed.

This story is like a mirror, reflecting the stupidity and self-deception of some people. Just like the man in the story who thought that covering his ears could change the reality, many people in life often choose to ignore or deny the facts, thinking that by doing so they can avoid facing the consequences.

In the real world, we cannot solve problems by掩耳盗铃. We need to face the truth bravely, analyze the situation objectively, and find reasonable solutions. Only by acknowledging the existence of problems and taking positive actions can we truly grow and progress.

Moreover, this story also reminds us of the importance of rational thinking. We should not be influenced by our own desires and emotions, but should use our rationality and wisdom to judge and make decisions. We cannot be like the thief in the story, only thinking about immediate gains and ignoring the potential risks and consequences.

It is also worth noting that this story has a certain educational significance for children. It can help them understand that honesty and integrity are the