寓言是一种历史悠久而生命力强大的古老文体，虽多形制短小，却有丰厚的内涵。中国古代寓言大多数以人物故事为载体，说理深刻透辟，包含许多人生智慧。中国先秦时期寓言创作最为兴盛，不少寓言作者是世界一流的思想家。《庄子》、《列子》中的寓言，想象飞驰，语言富丽，表现了道家重道、贵虚、齐物、逍遥的思想；《韩非子》中的寓言，文字简洁准确，表现了法家因时变法、严刑峻法的主张；《战国策》中的寓言，手法铺张，气势宏伟，针对外交、内政、军事方面的大事，随机应变，往往能够收到化险为夷的效果。《大中华文库·中国古代寓言选(汉英对照)》从这些先秦著名典籍中编选了许多寓言，同时还收录了后世其他寓言佳作，共选取121篇作品。它们流传广，饱含智慧，对文学创作和语言的发展影响很大。
《古代寓言·自满的马夫》
晏子为齐相，出。其御之妻从门间而窥其夫为相御，拥大鞭，策驷马，意气杨杨，甚自得也。
既而归，其妻请去。夫问其故。
妻曰：“晏子，身相齐国。名显诸侯。今者妾观其出，志念深矣。常有以自下者。今子乃为人仆御。然子之意，自以为足。妾是以求去也。”
其夫自抑损。
晏子怪而问之。御以实对。晏子荐以为大夫。
——《晏子春秋》
The Conceited Coachman
One day Yan Zi, prime minister of the state of Qi, went out in his carriage. His coachman's wife, from her gate, saw her husband looking thoroughly smug and conceited under the great carriage awning as he drove his four horses.
When the coachman went home, his wife told him she wanted to leave him.
Her husband asked her why.
"Yan Zi is prime minister of Qi," she replied. "He is famed through the states. But I saw him out today, deep in thought and not giving himself any airs. You are only a coachman, yet you look so conceited and pleased with yourself. That's why I want to leave you."
After this, her husband behaved more modestly. When Yan Zi, surprised, inquired the person for this change, the coachman told him the truth. Then Yan Zi recommended him for an official post.
Yan Zi
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