《[[管锥编]]》第二册记载英方小说《海外轩渠录》写飞浮岛国（Laputa）的人民“愁虑无宁晷”（never enjoying a minute's peace of mind），一天到晚害怕“天体将生变故”（their apprehensions arise from several changes they dread in the celestial bodies），例如“惴惴恐日轮渐逼地球，行且吸而吞之，以是寝不安席，生趣全无”（they can neither sleep quietly in their beds，nor have any relish for the common pleasures or amusements of life）。[[钱锺书]]认为这段叙述跟“杞人忧天”有异曲同工之妙。