To feed oneself on fancies; to console oneself with imaginary solutions or comfort; to draw cakes to allay hunger (metaphorical)
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Three Kingdoms period, there was a man named Lu Yu who served as an official in the State of Wei. He offered many excellent ideas to Emperor Wen of Wei, Cao Pi, and was therefore highly esteemed by the imperial court, being promoted to Attendant Censor and Secretary.
On one occasion, Emperor Wen said to Lu Yu: "Whether the state can acquire talented individuals critically depends on you. When selecting talent, do not choose those who merely have a good reputation. A good reputation is just like drawing a cake on the ground; it cannot be eaten."
Lu Yu replied: "It's impossible to truly measure a person's talent solely by their reputation, but it can help discover general talent. Those who are famous for their high moral cultivation and good conduct should not be shunned. I believe the primary method should be to assess them to see if they truly possess knowledge and ability. Currently, the examination system has been abolished, and promotions or demotions rely entirely on reputation, making it difficult to distinguish between the genuine and the fake, the real and the imaginary."
Emperor Wen adopted Lu Yu's advice and ordered the establishment of an examination system.