Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.
The novel is a rebellion against the limits of reality.
选自汉·桓宽《盐铁论·相刺》。即便像扁鹊那样医术高明的人,病人不肯接受针药的治疗,也是没有办法医治好他的病;即便是贤圣之士,如果国君没有接受正言相谏的雅量,那么贤圣也无能为力。这句话用良医治病也要病人配合和治国光靠贤圣之士的才干还不够做对比,更加充分的说明了贤君配合之道理。