What is the explanation that sugar cane is not sweet at both ends?

"Sugarcane is not sweet at both ends" means that sugarcane is sweetest only near the root, and neither end is sweet. Metaphorically speaking, good things can only occupy one end, not both.

Source: Zhao Youzhi, "Learning Dialectics": "It is difficult for a steel needle to have two sharp ends, and sugar cane cannot be sweet at both ends."

Sweet, a commonly used Chinese character (first-class character), pronounced as tián, was first seen in seal script. The original intention is like the taste of sugar and honey, as opposed to bitterness; The extended meaning includes beauty, happiness and happiness.

The origin of sweetness: "Thoughts on Confucius' Family Words": "When the king of Chu crossed the river, it was flat and solid, as big as a bucket, as red as the sun and as sweet as honey. "

Reasons why sugar cane is not sweet at both ends:

Sugarcane needs a lot of nutrients during its growth. Sugarcane grows sweeter. On the one hand, the sugar produced after growing up will increase, on the other hand, the nutrients consumed will decrease, and the excess sugar will be stored in the lower part of sugarcane.

Plants have the ability to protect themselves. Some of the produced nutrients are supplied for self-growth and some are stored. Therefore, the lower segment of mature sugarcane is sweeter than the upper segment.