to suffer the consequences of one's own actions; to reap what one has sown; to stew in one's own juice
Era:
Modern
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Song Dynasty, there was a high-ranking official named Qiu Jun. One day, he went to visit a monk. The monk, seeing Qiu Jun's simple attire and not recognizing him as an official, treated him with disdain and impoliteness.
Soon after, the son of a high-ranking military officer arrived. Noticing his magnificent clothing, the monk immediately approached him with a beaming smile and utmost reverence, offering a warm welcome. Qiu Jun was furious witnessing this favoritism.
After the officer's son departed, he angrily confronted the monk, 'Why were you so rude to me, yet so exceptionally kind to him?' The eloquent monk replied, 'You misunderstand! I might be outwardly polite to some, but not necessarily inwardly. Conversely, for those I truly respect within, there's no need for excessive outward politeness.'
At that very moment, Qiu Jun happened to be holding a walking stick. In a fit of rage, he struck the monk on the head, saying, 'According to your logic, hitting you means I love you, and not hitting you means I hate you. Therefore, I have no choice but to hit you!'