To wildly overrate one's own strength and attempt to stop an overwhelmingly superior force, leading to inevitable failure; a futile attempt to resist an irresistible force.
Era:
Ancient
Frequency:
Antonym:
Story:
During the Spring and Autumn period, there was a virtuous man in the State of Lu named Yan He. He was invited by Duke Ling of Wei to be the tutor for his crown prince, Kuai Gui. Yan He had heard that Kuai Gui was a notoriously wicked person. Upon arriving in Wei, he first visited Qu Boyu, a wise man of Wei, to seek advice on how to effectively teach the prince.
Qu Boyu replied, "It is good and beneficial that you came to inquire first, but it will be very difficult to successfully teach the prince using your abilities." He further added, "Do you not know about the mantis? It brandishes its arms to block the chariot wheel, unaware that it is utterly incapable of doing so, yet it believes its talent is excellent. Be warned, be cautious!"
He meant that the mantis raises its forelegs to stop a moving chariot wheel, completely unaware of its own inadequacy, firmly believing its action to be good and beneficial.
Qu Boyu then advised Yan He, "Yan He! Your intentions are good, but your actions are like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. You must be on guard! Be careful!"