Stories of Chinese word and term (26)

鹤立鸡群, a crane standing among chickens.

A chief of a tribe offered fine furs of fox and black leopard to duke 晋文. When the duke took them he sighed, “These animals were killed because they have beautiful fur. It just like some states were invaded because their king have good reputation, or they have fertile farmland all these crime is from greedy. So, if you are a crane standing among chickens, you will be the one to be struck down first.”

It was the main reason that Chinese always keep in low-key. For their ancestors always taught them like this.

Pic from: http://www.dizigui9.com/zlk/jiaoxueyuandi/jiaoyuzatan/2287.html