The snipe and the clam quarreled, and the fisherman gained his strength. Source:

Original text

Zhao Qie attacked Yan, and the Su Dynasty said to King Hui of Yan: "Now I am here. After passing through the water, the clam came out, and the snipe pecked its flesh, and the clam closed its beak. The snipe said: "If it doesn't rain today, it won't rain tomorrow, and there will be dead clams." The clam also said to the snipe: "It won't come out today." If the sun doesn't come out tomorrow, there will be dead snipe. "The two are unwilling to give up, and the fishermen will catch them together. Now Zhao is attacking Yan, and Yan and Zhao have been supporting each other for a long time, which will harm the people. I am afraid that Qin will become the father of fishermen." So I hope that the king will be wise." King Hui said: "It's good."

Translation

The State of Zhao was preparing to attack the State of Yan. Su Dai went to persuade King Zhao Hui on behalf of the State of Yan, saying: "When I came here this time, I passed by Yishui and saw a river clam coming from the river. When the snipe came out to bask in the sun, a snipe flew over and pecked at its flesh. The clam immediately closed its mouth and clamped its mouth. The snipe said, "If it doesn't rain today, you will become dried meat." The river clam said to the snipe: "If I don't let you go today, you will become a dead snipe if I don't let you go tomorrow." Neither of them wanted to let go, so a fisherman came over and caught them both. The state is about to attack the state of Yan. If Yan and Zhao remain in stalemate for a long time, the people will be exhausted. I am worried that the powerful state of Qin will become a fisherman who gets something for nothing, so I hope that the king will seriously consider sending troops." King Zhao Huiwen said: " Okay." So he stopped sending troops to attack Yan.

Comments

"When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman will benefit." This is a profound lesson that has been known to everyone for thousands of years. This story illustrates: Comrades and friends should unite and help each other instead of intrigues. We should clearly see and deal with common enemies. Otherwise, it will inevitably create an opportunity for the enemy to take advantage of, and both sides will suffer disaster

"Warring States Policy·Yan Policy II" records: The clam opened its shell to bask in the sun, and the snipe pecked it. The mouth was clamped by the clam shell, and neither party gave in. The fisherman came and caught both of them. It is a metaphor for a dispute between two parties, both sides suffer losses, and the third party is advantaged.

Sourced from the second fold of "Qi Ying Bu" by Shang Zhongxian of Yuan Dynasty: "You can wait for others to die in the stalemate between snipe and clam, but also wait for us fishermen to smile and revive again."

Usage: subject-predicate form; used as predicate and attributive; with derogatory meaning

Example Ming Feng Menglong's "Awakening the World Hengyan· Qiao Taishou Randian Yuanyang Pu": "~, you can make a profit by yourself."

[Tips]

This is a very vivid fable. It tells us: In the face of a powerful enemy, the weak and weak must unite to eliminate conflicts, unite as one, and deal with the enemy together. The same is true when dealing with internal affairs. Local interests must be subordinated to overall interests, immediate interests must be subordinated to long-term interests, and small principles must be subordinated to big principles. Otherwise, internal fighting will continue without giving in to each other, which will only hurt both sides and benefit a third party. "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman gets the benefit" has long been a commonly used idiom.