《淮南子·俶真训》
那牛蹄踩出的小水洼是容不下一尺长的鲤鱼的；土丘似的山坡是长不出参天大树的。
夫牛蹄之涔，无尺之鲤，块阜之山，无丈之材，所以然者何也？
The small waterhole trampled by the cow's hoof cannot accommodate the carp that is one foot long; the hill-like slope cannot grow a towering tree.