Chuang - tse was approached by two representatives
of the Prince of Ch'u, who offered him a position at court.
Chuang-tse watched the water flowing by as
if he had not heard. Finally, he remarked, "I am
told that the Prince has a sacred tortoise, over two
thousand years old, which is kept in a box, wrapped
in silk and brocade." "That is true," the officials replied.
" If the tortoise had been given a choice, "
Chuang-tse continued, "which do you think he
would have liked better-to have been alive in the
mud, or dead within the palace?" "To have been
alive in the mud, of course," the men answered. "I
too prefer the mud," said Chuang'tse. "Good-bye."
"I like mud, too," said Pooh.
from the life of Chuang-tse and The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff
