There was a wealthy man living in the state of Song whom rain damaged a wall of the house. His son remarked: "If you don't get it repaired, robbers will certainly come!" And the neighbour's father said the same.

At night, the rich man indeed suffered heavy loss in property whereupon the family members marvelled at the son's brightness, but became suspicious about the neighbour's father.

Han Feizi

This is another of Han Feizi's typical stories which reflect his deep understanding of the human psyche and its mechanism of projection. There was nothing wrong with the well-intentioned neighbour's statement. He actually didn't say anything different from the family's son. But to his disadvantage, he lacked the closeness bonds of blood provide and ended up viewed with suspicion.