A water bearer had two large pots. One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack[裂缝] in it, and by the time the water bearer reached his master’s house, it had leaked much of the water and was only half full.
　　For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his master’s house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments[成就]. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection[瑕疵], and miserable[痛苦的] that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
　　It spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream, “I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.”
　　“Why?” asked the bearer. “What are you ashamed of?”
　　“I can only deliver half my load because this crack causes water to leak out all the way back to the house. Because of my flaws[缺点], you don’t get full value from your efforts,” the pot said.
　　The water bearer felt sorry for the cracked pot, “As we return to the house, I want you to pay attention to the beautiful flowers along the path.”
　　Indeed, as they went up the hill, the pot took notice of the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path. The bearer said, “Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? That’s because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you’ve watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate[装饰] my master’s table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house.”
　　Each of us has our own unique flaws. We’re all cracked pots. Don’t be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge[承认] them, and you too can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness, we find our strength.
　　
　　一个挑水工有两个大水罐——其中一个制作精良，从不漏水；另一个则有一条裂纹，等挑水工走到他主人家时，水都漏得差不多了，罐子只是半满。
　　整整两年，每天如是，挑水工只能给主人送去一罐半的水。当然了，完好无缺的水罐对自己的表现相当自豪。有裂纹的可怜水罐则自惭形秽，只能完成一半的使命让它难过极了。
　　有一天，它在溪边对挑水工说：“我真为自己感到羞耻，我得向你道个歉。”
　　“为什么呢？”挑水工问道，“是什么让你感到羞愧？”
　　“我只能运一半水，因为这条裂缝害我一直漏水，从这里到大屋洒了一路。都怪我不好，你的辛劳没有得到相等的回报，”水罐说。
　　挑水工很同情有裂纹的水罐，他说：“等会儿我们回大屋的时候，我希望你留意一下沿途那些美丽的花儿。”
　　确实，在他们走上山时，水罐注意到路边盛开着美丽的野花。挑水工说：“这一路上，只有你这边开着花，而另一个水罐那边却没有花，你注意到了吗？这是因为我一直知道你有缺点，并变害为利，在你这边的路上播下花种。每一天，当我们从溪边走回来时，你一直浇灌着它们。这两年来，我总能采到美丽的野花，妆点主人的餐桌。假若没有这样的你，他的大屋里就不会有这份美丽的景致。”
　　我们每一个人都有自己特有的缺点。我们都是有裂纹的水罐。不要害怕你的缺点，接受它们，你也可以创造自己的美丽。要知道，正是在不足的地方，我们才能找到自己的优势所在。