该句使用因果结构表达缺乏变化带来的结果。
There was a painter who rigidly adhered to a single technique, never seeking change, so his subsequent works became mere repetitions of his previous ones. One day, he presented his proud creation to his teacher, who said, “Go to the mill and calculate how far the donkey pushing the mill has traveled.” The painter replied, “Is it necessary to track the donkey’s path?” The teacher said, “If you understand how to seek your self through constant abandonment, how can you remain like the donkey, always stepping in your own footprints?” Any previously excellent method can become an obstacle to progress; only innovation leads to advancement.
有个墨守成规、不求变通的画家只满足于惯用一种手法作画，于是他后续的作品都成为前作的重复。有一天，他拿着得意之作请教老师，老师说：“你到磨坊去计算推磨的驴走了多少路程。”画家说：“对于推磨的驴来说，有什么必要计算它的行程呢？”老师说：“如果你懂得在不断抛弃中寻求自我的话，又怎能像推磨的驴一样，总是踏着自己的脚印走路呢？”任何一种原先良好的东西都会成为前进的障碍，只有革新才能进步。