周容是一位清代著名的文学家，他的作品以细腻的笔触和深刻的哲理见长。《芋老人传》是其代表作之一，通过一个关于芋头的故事，揭示了深刻的人生哲理。

原文如下：

芋老人者，闽人也。尝读韩昌黎《马说》，叹曰：“世有伯乐，然后有千里马；千里马常有，而伯乐不常有。”因感而赋诗云：“千里马常有，而伯乐不常有。老马识途，何须伯乐？”

一日，老人耕田间，见一少年拾芋而食。问之，少年言：“家贫无粮，拾此充饥。”老人悯之，赠以数枚。少年感激而去。

数年后，老人复见少年于市，衣冠楚楚，俨然富贵之人。少年见老人，大惊，拜谢曰：“当年蒙恩，今日得以富足，皆赖先生之赐。”

老人笑曰：“吾非伯乐，亦非能手。但知人之饥，与人同甘苦耳。若无伯乐，千里马犹在荒野；若有伯乐，千里马亦不过一匹马而已。”

译文如下：

The old man who grew yams was from Fujian province. He once read Han Yu's "Essay on Horses" and sighed, saying: "In the world there are connoisseurs, and then there are thoroughbreds; thoroughbreds are often found, but connoisseurs are not." Thus moved, he composed a poem: "Thoroughbreds are often found, but connoisseurs are not. An old horse knows the way; why need a connoisseur?"

One day, while tilling his field, the old man saw a young man eating yams he had picked up. Upon inquiry, the youth said: "My family is poor and has no grain, so I pick these to stave off hunger." The old man pitied him and gave him several pieces. The youth thanked him and left.

Several years later, the old man met the youth again in the market, now dressed in fine clothes and appearing as a wealthy person. Seeing the old man, the youth was greatly surprised and bowed in gratitude, saying: "Back then, I was helped by your kindness, and today I am able to become prosperous, all thanks to your gift."

The old man laughed and said: "I am not a connoisseur, nor am I skilled. I only know when people are hungry and share their hardships. Without connoisseurs, thoroughbreds remain in the wilderness; even with connoisseurs, thoroughbreds are still just horses."

这篇故事告诉我们，真正的人才需要被发现和培养，但更重要的是自身的努力和坚持。正如文中所言，“老马识途”，每个人都有自己的潜力，关键在于是否有人愿意给予机会和支持。