战国时代，齐国的大臣孟尝君出巡各国。
当他到达楚国时，楚王要送他一张象牙雕塑的床。
郢都一个姓登徒的人被派去护送这张床，但他不愿意去。
这个人就去找孟尝君的一个门客公孙戍说：“我是郢都人登徒氏，现在我当班须护送象牙床。可是象牙床价值千金，只要稍有损伤，就算我卖了妻小都赔不起。先生如能设法阻止此事，愿以祖传的宝剑答谢。”
公孙戍毫不考虑就答应了。
于是，公孙戍便去见孟尝君劝他不要接受这份礼物。
孟尝君询问他其中的原因。
公孙戍说：“这些国家都以相印授公，表示对您的敬仰，而那是因为听说您在齐国能解救民生困苦，让濒临灭亡者得以存活。各国的杰出之士，都将国事托付您，也是因为仰慕您的义气和廉洁。如今您到楚国就接受了这样的重礼，那其它您尚未到访的国家该如何接待您呢？所以臣希望您不要接受这份厚礼。”
孟尝君听后觉的有道理就答应了。
公孙戍快步退出，但还未走出门，刚到中门就被叫回来。
孟尝君说：“你不要我接受象牙床的重礼，这是很好的建议。可是为什么你走路时把脚抬的很高，样子也显的很神气？”
公孙戍说：“臣有三大喜事，还外加一把宝剑。”
孟尝君说：“为什么这么说呢？”
公孙戍说：“您门下食客有好几百人，却没有人敢进谏，只有我敢，这是臣的一喜；我的谏言能得到您采纳，这是二喜；谏言又能让您免于犯错，这是三喜。为楚国护送象牙床的郢人登徒，他不愿意送床，如果我能帮他的忙，他允诺送我一把祖传的宝剑。”
孟尝君听了并没有生气，对他说：“你接受宝剑了吗？”
公孙戍说：“没有您许可，臣不敢接受赠礼。”
孟尝君说：“赶快把宝剑收下。”
孟尝君因为这件事，还在门板上写着：“能让我扬名，又能阻止我犯错，纵使在外私下接受馈赠宝物的人，都请快速来谏。”
这个故事记载在《战国策》里，成语“趾高气扬”也是从这个故事演变而来。
用来形容傲慢自得的人。
In the Warring States period, Mengchangjun, a minister of the state of Qi, traveled to various countries.
When he arrived in Chu, the King of Chu wanted to give him a bed carved from ivory.
A man named Dengtu was sent to escort the bed, but he did not want to go.
The man went to see one of Mengchangjun's guests, Gongsun Suo, and said, "I am Dengtu from Yingdu. Now I am on duty and must escort the ivory bed. But the ivory bed is worth a thousand gold coins. Even if I sell my wife and children, I cannot afford it. If you can find a way to stop this, I will thank you with my family's treasured sword."
Gongsun Suo agreed without hesitation.
So Gongsun Suo went to see Mengchangjun and advised him not to accept the gift.
Mengchangjun asked him for the reason.
Gongsun Suo said, "These countries have all granted you the seal of the prime minister as a sign of their respect for you. That is because they have heard that you can relieve people's suffering in the state of Qi and save those who are on the verge of destruction. The outstanding men of each country have entrusted their national affairs to you because of their admiration for your righteousness and integrity. Now that you have accepted such a valuable gift in Chu, how should the other countries that you have not yet visited receive you? So I hope you do not accept this generous gift."
Mengchangjun thought it made sense and agreed.
Gongsun Suo quickly stepped back, but before he could leave, he was called back just as he reached the central gate.
Mengchangjun said, "You advised me not to accept the heavy gift of the ivory bed, which is good advice. But why did you lift your feet so high when you walked and look so proud?"
Gongsun Suo said, "I have three reasons to be happy, plus an additional treasured sword."
Mengchangjun asked, "Why do you say that?"
Gongsun Suo said, "There are hundreds of guests under your roof, but none of them dare to offer advice. Only I dare to do so, which is my first joy; my advice has been adopted by you, which is my second joy; and my advice has prevented you from making a mistake, which is my third joy. The man from Yingdu named Dengtu, who was assigned to escort the ivory bed, did not want to deliver it. If I can help him, he promised to give me his family's treasured sword."
Mengchangjun was not angry after hearing this and said to him, "Have you received the treasured sword?"
Gongsun Suo said, "I dare not accept the gift without your permission."
Mengchangjun said, "Hurry up and take the sword."
Because of this incident, Mengchangjun wrote on the door panel: 'Those who can make me famous and prevent me from making mistakes, even if they accept gifts privately outside, please come and advise me quickly.'
This story is recorded in the 'Strategies of the Warring States' and the idiom 'arrogant and complacent' also evolved from this story.
It is used to describe arrogant and self-satisfied people.
