Modesty（谦逊）is a kind of important virtue in many cultures. It is same in China. However, the Chinese idiom“毛遂自荐”seems to disagree with it.
During the Warring States Period, Prince Pingyuan saw the city of Handan was in ，so he wanted to pick 20 talented people to ask for help from the state of Chu to save his city. However, he could only find 19 people who wereenough. Then, a man Mao Sui stood out.
The prince looked at Mao Sui and asked, "How long have you been here with ？”
＂Three years," Mao answered.
＂I hear that a person with talent is like an awl(锥子）in a cloth bag。.Its point will soon pierce（戳穿）.the bag. You've been here for a long time, I haven't seen any of your achievements. Maybe you don t have any talent." said the prince.
“What I'm asking you now is to put me into that bag. If you do that, I will pierce through it. Not the point but also the whole awl," Mao said seriously.
Hearing this, the prince Mao to join his team, and Mao was really helpful.
Now the idiom "毛遂自荐” is used to describe someone who to do something.
