| When somebody overrates himself, he is often warned:
"Don't be a mantis trying to stop a chariot."
The saying comes from a legend dated back to the Spring
and Autumn Period.
One day, the King of Qi went out for a hunting with
his men. The carriages were going along, when suddenly
a mantis stood in the middle of the road with its sickle-like
forelegs opened. It was obvious that he was trying to
fight against the carriage to hold it back. Surprised
at the case, the King of Qi ordered to stop and asked
what creature it was. When he was told it was called
mantis, and it would go well up to bridle decisively
when it was challenged. The King sighed with exclamation
at its braveness. He mused a moment and added: "It's
a great pity that it is not more than an insect. If
it were a man, he must be the bravest warrior in the
world!" Then the King ordered his carriages turn
around it to leave the mantis there standing martially.
When the persons around heard the King's words, they
were well touched and determined to devote themselves
to the country.
As time passed, the meaning of the phrase changed to
its opposite. Now it means that someone overrates oneself
and try to hold back an overwhelmingly superior force
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