What is the sword of Damocles?

This allusion comes from a historical story in ancient Greece: in the 4th century BC, Syracuse Wang Di Onisius (430-367 BC) in the east of Sicily attacked the aristocratic forces and established an Athenian-style democratic regime, but he was dissatisfied and opposed by the nobles, which made him feel that although he had great power, his position was not reliable. Once, he talked to Damocles, the minister of Xiang Chong, about this issue, and vividly showed his views to him. In order to satisfy the greed of his favorite Damocles, he was entrusted with the palace and gave him complete power to realize any desire. This vain and snobbish Damocles looked up at a banquet in Daqing and saw a sword hanging upside down under the ceiling above the seat. Only a horse mane was tied to the hilt, and it was about to fall on his head, which scared him to leave quickly. Then King theseus of Dionysus came out and said, "This sword (worn on Damocles' head) is a symbol of danger, threatening the king all the time. As for the joy and happiness of the king, it is only a superficial phenomenon. "So, people use the sword of Damocles to describe the sinister and dangerous behind ease and peace.

Pandora's box

Prometheus, the god of heaven, stole fire from heaven and gave it to mankind. Humans learned to use fire, and Zeus, the god of gods, was very angry. Zeus decided to let disaster befall mankind.

He ordered his son hephaestus, the Vulcan, to make a woman out of clay, and named her Pandora, which means "a person endowed with all advantages". Every god gave her something to make her perfect. Aphrodite gave her beauty, Hermes gave her glib words, and Apollo gave her musical talent. Zeus gave Pandora a sealed box full of evil, disaster and plague, and asked her to give it to the person she married. Zeus sent this beautiful woman to earth, and gods and mortals are wandering happily on the earth. Everyone was very surprised and admired when they saw this incomparable beauty, because there had never been such a woman.

Pandora immediately went to Epimetheus, a "sleeper", who was Prometheus' younger brother and was honest and kind. Prometheus was convinced that Zeus was hostile to mankind and warned his brother Epitos not to accept Zeus' gift. But he didn't listen to advice and married the beautiful Pandora. Pandora holds her gift in both hands. It is a big sealed gift box. When she just walked near Epimetheus, she suddenly opened the lid. It is said that Pandora opened the box out of curiosity. ) Before Epimetheus could see what was in the box, a black smoke harmful to human beings quickly flew out of the box and filled the sky like a dark cloud. Black smoke is full of diseases, madness, disasters, sins, jealousy, adultery, theft, greed and other evils, which are soon scattered on the ground. Athena, the goddess of wisdom, quietly put the beautiful thing "hope" at the bottom of the box to save human destiny. Before it could fly out of the box, the cunning Pandora closed the box. Later, the metaphor of "Pandora's box" brought unfortunate gifts; The cave of disaster.

Isn't this human nature? If tied too tightly, people will shrink and lose their vitality; Without restraint and wanton publicity, the animal side of human beings will expand viciously. Isn't this like Pandora's box? Open and release evil, close the seal and hope.