When Yangzi [Yangtzi] made a trip to the atete of Song, he spent one night at an inn.

The host had two concubines, one beautiful and one homely. He prized the homely one and disdained the beauty.

Yangzi [Yangtzi] asked one of the attendants why this was so. The latter explained, "The beautiful one is conscious of her beauty, but we cannot see her beauty. The homely one is conscious of her homeliness, but we cannot see her homeliness."

Reference: Buber, M. (1991). Chinese Tales: Sayings adn Parables and Chinese Gost and Love Stories, New Jersey: Humanities Press International. p.68.

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