极而言之 go to extremes
Explanation
从最极端的情况来说；把话说到头。
To speak from the most extreme perspective; to speak to the point.
Origin Story
话说唐朝时期，一位著名的宰相李泌，以其卓越的政治智慧和远见卓识闻名于世。一日，玄宗皇帝召见李泌，向他询问国家大事，并请他畅所欲言。李泌沉思片刻，而后缓缓开口，他并没有直接回答皇帝的问题，而是从国家最为薄弱的环节说起，深入分析了各种潜在的危机，以及可能引发的严重后果。他极而言之，甚至设想了最糟糕的情况，指出如果不能及时采取有效措施，国家将面临灭亡的危险。 李泌的言辞犀利而深刻，虽然言语中带着几分危言耸听的意味，却也让玄宗皇帝意识到问题的严重性。他并没有被李泌的极端言论所吓倒，反而从中汲取了宝贵的经验教训，下令立即整改，并采取了一系列的措施来稳定国家局势。 李泌的“极而言之”并非夸大其词，而是基于他深刻的洞察力和对国家局势的精准判断。他用最极端的情况来警示皇帝，提醒他必须重视潜在的危机，才能确保国家长治久安。
During the Tang Dynasty, a famous prime minister named Li Mi was known for his exceptional political wisdom and foresight. One day, Emperor Xuanzong summoned Li Mi and asked him about important state affairs, inviting him to speak freely. Li Mi pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke. Instead of directly answering the emperor's questions, he began by discussing the country's weakest aspects, deeply analyzing various potential crises and their possible severe consequences. He went to extremes, even imagining the worst-case scenario, pointing out that if effective measures weren't taken immediately, the country would face the danger of collapse. Li Mi's words were sharp and profound. While tinged with hyperbole, they made Emperor Xuanzong realize the seriousness of the situation. He wasn't intimidated by Li Mi's extreme statements but learned valuable lessons from them. He ordered immediate reforms and implemented a series of measures to stabilize the national situation. Li Mi's 'going to extremes' wasn't exaggeration but based on his keen insight and accurate judgment of the national situation. He used the most extreme scenario to warn the emperor, reminding him that he must take potential crises seriously to ensure long-term stability for the country.
Usage
用于强调某一观点或论述的极端性。
Used to emphasize the extremity of a viewpoint or argument.
Examples
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他极而言之，认为这个计划完全不可行。
ta ji er yan zhi, renwei zhege jihua wanquan bukexing.
He went to extremes, arguing that the plan is completely unworkable.
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为了说明问题，他极而言之，提出了最坏的情况。
weile shuoming wenti, ta ji er yan zhi, tichule zuibai de qingkuang
To illustrate the point, he went to extremes, presenting the worst case scenario.