劳而无功 — “To make an effort without achieving any result”

Confucius, a renowned educator and social activist, fervently advocated for governing the country with benevolence and righteousness, and for restoring the ritual system of the past Zhou Dynasty. He believed that if rulers simply used 'benevolence and righteousness' to inspire the common people, manage inter-state relations, and re-establish the ritual system, the world would achieve stability. To this end, he traveled extensively across various states, promoting his political philosophy to their rulers and urging them to adopt it. Regrettably, his political proposals were not as esteemed and embraced as his pedagogical insights; he met with resistance everywhere.

Confucius's student, Yan Hui, inquired of an official in Lu state named Taishi Jin: 'My teacher Confucius travels far and wide, trying to persuade people to accept his doctrines, but he encounters obstacles at every turn. What do you foresee the situation will be like this time when he goes to Wei state?'

Taishi Jin shook his head and replied, 'I doubt it will succeed. With wars erupting everywhere, rulers of various states are preoccupied with battling for territory and are quite unreceptive to your teacher's talk of 'benevolence and righteousness.' Who would heed such anachronistic sermons? Cai and Chen states serve as examples. If he goes to Wei state to persuade them, it certainly won't yield any positive outcomes.'

Taishi Jin further elaborated with an analogy: 'A boat is the most efficient means of transport on water; a carriage is the best means of transport on land. If one insists on using a boat on land to transport goods, it's a futile endeavor, toiling in vain. Your teacher's journey to Wei state to preach is akin to attempting to move goods with a boat on land. The outcome will invariably be 'toil in vain,' and he might even attract misfortune. Do not forget the lesson from your visit to Chen state; did not everyone there ignore you, and you couldn't find food for seven days?'