削足适履 — “Cut the feet to fit the shoes”

The idiom "削足适履" (xuē zú shì lǚ) originates from the Han Dynasty text "Huainanzi," authored by Liu An.

In this work, Liu An commented on historical events where rulers made foolish decisions, often leading to tragic outcomes. He criticized those who readily believed malicious advice, causing fathers and sons, or brothers, to turn against each other, leading to their demise.

Liu An likened such unwise actions to "cutting one's feet to fit the shoes," emphasizing how illogical and ultimately self-destructive it is to forcefully adapt or compromise in a way that goes against natural principles or objective conditions.

This metaphor highlights the folly of taking inappropriate measures, or blindly adhering to rigid rules, without considering the practical consequences or specific circumstances.