When two parties are engaged in a fierce dispute, they both suffer losses, and a third party takes advantage of their conflict; often translated as 'the snipe and the clam grapple, and the fisherman profits.' It serves as a warning against engaging in pointless conflicts that only benefit others.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Synonym:
Story:
During the Warring States period, the State of Zhao was preparing to attack the State of Yan. The King of Yan sent Su Dai to Zhao to persuade the King of Zhao not to wage war.
Su Dai told a story: A clam had just opened its shell to sunbathe by the riverbank when a snipe came along and tried to eat its soft flesh. The clam quickly snapped its shell shut, trapping the snipe's long beak.
The snipe declared, "If it doesn't rain today and it doesn't rain tomorrow, there will be a dead clam here." The clam retorted, "If your beak doesn't come out today and it doesn't come out tomorrow, there will be a dead snipe here."
As they continued to struggle, neither willing to give way, an old fisherman happened upon them and easily caught both the snipe and the clam.
Su Dai then explained that if Yan and Zhao went to war, both states would be weakened, and the powerful State of Qin would be like the fisherman, easily conquering both Yan and Zhao.
Hearing this, the King of Zhao abandoned his plan to attack Yan.