事无常师 shì wú cháng shī There is no constant teacher

Explanation

指处理事情没有一成不变的准则，要根据具体情况灵活掌握，选择最恰当的方法。

It means that there are no immutable rules for handling things. One must be flexible in dealing with specific situations and choose the most appropriate method.

Origin Story

话说春秋战国时期，鬼谷子下山云游，途中遇到一位年轻的书生。书生苦恼地向鬼谷子诉说，他学习多年，掌握了很多治国理政的理论知识，但实际操作却屡屡碰壁，总是无法取得理想的效果。鬼谷子听后，捋须微笑，说道：“治国安邦，并非只有一种方法，事无常师，要根据具体情况灵活运用，才能取得成功。”他随后讲述了多个案例，说明如何根据不同情况调整策略。年轻书生如醍醐灌顶，茅塞顿开，最终明白了灵活变通的重要性，在日后治国理政中取得了显著成就。

huì shuō chūn qiū zhàn guó shí qī, guǐ gǔ zǐ xià shān yún yóu, tú zhōng yù dào yī wèi nián qīng de shū shēng. shū shēng kǔ nǎo de xiàng guǐ gǔ zǐ sù shuō, tā xuéxí duō nián, zhǎngwò le hěn duō zhì guó lǐ zhèng de lí lùn zhī shí, dàn shíjì cāo zuò què lǚ lǚ pèng bì, zǒng shì wú fǎ qǔ dé lǐ xiǎng de xiào guǒ. guǐ gǔ zǐ tīng hòu, lǚ xū wēi xiào, shuō dào："zhì guó ān bāng, bìng fēi zhǐ yǒu yī zhǒng fāng fǎ, shì wú cháng shī, yào gēn jù jùtǐ qíng kuàng líng huó yùnyòng, cái néng qǔ dé chéng gōng." tā suí hòu jiǎng shù le duō gè àn lì, shuō míng rú hé gēn jù bù tóng qíng kuàng tiáo zhěng cè lüè. nián qīng shū shēng rú tí hú guàn dǐng, máo sè dùn kāi, zhōng yú míng bái líng huó biàn tōng de zhòng yào xìng, zài rì hòu zhì guó lǐ zhèng zhōng qǔ dé le xiǎn zhù chéng jiù.

In ancient China, during the Warring States period, Gui Guzi, a renowned strategist, traveled down the mountain and encountered a young scholar. The scholar lamented his difficulties in applying his years of study on governance. He often faced obstacles and could not achieve the desired results. Gui Guzi, stroking his beard, smiled and said, "Governance has no fixed rules, there is no constant teacher (shi wu chang shi). You must adapt to the situation to succeed." He gave several examples showing how to adjust strategies depending on the context. The young scholar had an epiphany and understood the importance of flexibility.

Usage

用于说明处理事情要灵活变通，没有固定模式。

yòng yú shuō míng chǔlǐ shìqíng yào línghuó biàn tōng, méiyǒu gùdìng móshì

It is used to illustrate that things should be handled flexibly and there is no fixed model.

Examples

• 学习不能墨守成规，要事无常师。

  xuéxí bùnéng mòshǒuchéngguī, yào shì wú cháng shī

  Learning should not be rigid, but rather learn from various teachers.

• 处理问题要灵活多变，切不可事无常师。

  chǔlǐ wèntí yào línghuó duōbiàn, qiē bùkě shì wú cháng shī

  When dealing with problems, you should be flexible, do not stick to a certain method

Related Idioms

• 兼听则明

• 见机行事

Opposite Idioms

• 墨守成规

• 因循守旧