涸辙之鱼 — “A fish stranded in a dry rut”

During the Warring States period, Zhuang Zhou of the Song Kingdom lived in poverty. One day, he sought to borrow grain from his friend, Jianhe Hou.

His friend, however, put him off, saying he would lend it once he collected his rents.

Zhuang Zhou then told his friend a story: He encountered a crucian carp in a dry rut, whose water was almost gone, pleading for help.

Zhuang Zhou promised the carp he would go to the states of Wu and Yue to fetch water for it. Having said that, he turned and left without looking back, implying that the distant promise was of no immediate help to the dying fish.