Once upon a time, a merchant was in the market selling his weapons. He held up a spear and boasted, “My spear is so sharp that there is nothing it can not pierce I” The onlookers marveled at his claim. Then he raised his shield and bragged, “My shield is so tough that nothing can pierce it!” At that moment, someone from the crowd asked curiously, “What will happen if you pierce your shield with your spear?” The merchant was left speechless and couldn’t answer. Since then, the story has been used as a metaphor for the inconsistency between words and deeds.