Weekly Classical Chinese Golden Quotes
慧者心辩而不繁说，多力而不伐功，此以名誉扬天下 《墨子.修身》 智慧的人明察秋毫，凡事明辨，却不多加言语，做事勤勉、埋头实务，却不夸耀自己，因此得以美名传于天下。“He who is wise knows in his heart, and uses few words. He has great strength, but is modest. Thus he is world- renowned."An intelligent person's mind is like a mirror of understanding, and he does not need many words; he uses his strength to accomplish things, but does not boast of his achievements. In this way, his fame spreads throughout the world.虽万千人，吾往矣。《孟子.公孙丑上》
古语今译:
即使眼前有千万人横亘、阻挡，我也会义无反顾勇往直前。
Original Quote:
“I will make my way, even through thousands."
Explanation:
No matter how many stand in my way, I will forge ahead fearlessly
富貴不能淫，贫贱不能移，威武不能屈。《孟子.滕文公下》
古语今译:
富贵不能使我迷惑混乱，贫贱不能动摇我的心志，威武不能使我屈服、丢弃气节。
Original Quote:
“Weath and position cannot make me arrogant and abandoned; poverty cannot make me slacken principle; power and force cannot make me bend."
Explanation:
Riches and exalted status cannot make me arrogant and dissolute; straightened cirumsances cannot make me swerve from principle; authority and arms cannot make me stray from my purpose
人恒过，然后能改;困于心，衡于虑，而后作; 征于色，发于声，而后喻。
一个人经常犯错，才能改过来。内心国扰，思绪阻塞，然后才能奋发起来，有所作为。他的思绪和想法，在外表上表现出来，在言语上吐露出来，才会被人了解。“A constant sinner can change his ways; racked by distress and mixed emotions, he can find his way. Showing sincerity and asking questions, he can be understood."An inveterate wrongdoer can change his behavior for the better. His emotions and thoughts, tangled and blocked, drive him to find the way to his goal. If he shows himself to be sincerely diligent and prompdly asks about things which he does not understand, then he can communicate with others.
石可破也，而不可夺坚 ; 丹可磨也，而不可夺赤。《吕氏舂秋.诚廉》石头，你可以打碎它，却不能改变它坚硬的本质 ; 丹砂，你可以研磨它，不能磨损那赤红的本色。比喻人的气节和操守坚贞如一，不因为外界环境的打击和变化而改变。You can break a stone, bur you can't take away its haness ; you can grind cinnabar, but you can't take away its redness."stone no matter how smashed still retains its quality of hardness; cinnabar no matter how ground still maintains its quality of redness.
This implies that a person must firmly maintain his moral integrity and stance; he must not turn with the tide" every time there is a setback in his external surroundings.君子贤而能容罢，知而能容愚，博而能容浅，粹而能容杂.《荀子.非相》君子贤德就能容纳软弱无知的人，智慧就能容纳愚笨的人，博学多识就能容纳才识浅薄的人，品性高洁纯粹就能容纳糅杂不纯的人。"A genleman of worth is tolerant of the unworthy; of knowledge is tolerant of the ignorant;, of magnanimity is tolerant of the sallow; and of purity is tolerant of the turbid."The genleman who is worthy and capable is benignant toward those less gifted than himself. His learning allows him to make allownces for the benighted. His broad-mindedness encompasses the shallow minded, and his purity of spirit dictates forebearance toward those of muddled character.非淡泊无以明志，非宁静无以致远。《淮南子.主术训》若非恬淡自中、清心寡欲，就难以明晰自己的志向 ; 唯有平静沉着、简约安宁，才能到达深远的境界 ."Without being pure, a bright ambition is out of reach; without being indifferentr, a far-off goal cannot be reached."Unless you are imperturbable and not greedy, you will never achieve your lofty ambition; unless you wave aside all external considerations, you will never attain your far-reaching goal.英见乎隐，莫显平微，故君子慎其独也。《礼记。中庸》没有什么不在隐蔽处显现，没有什么不在细微处凸显，所以，君子在独自一人、无人注意时，也要谨言慎行，严格地遵守道德规范，内心有所坚持。"Nothing is not clear when it is hidden, and nothing does not loom when it is minute. Therefore, the gentleman is strict with himself even when alone."There is nothing that is not visible in microcosm, and noting that is no detectable in a peck. Therefore, the superior man must be careful in word and deed even when he is alone , with no one to take note of what he says or does.
君子不失足于人，不失色于人，不失口于人《礼记.表记》有道德修养的谦谦君子，在众人面前，举止有度，进退有仅，从容淡定，不将喜怒哀乐的脸色宣泄于他人，也不会言语粗暴，冒犯他人。“The gentleman loses neither his propriety, his dignity nor his voice among the crowd."The superior man, posessed of the Way and its power, is singed out for propriety, dignity and eloquence before the common crowd.无道人之短，无说己之长。施人慎勿念，受施慎勿忘。《座右铭》不要说别人的短处，也不要夸耀自己的长处。如果施予别人恩惠，就不要记 挂心中，但如果承受了别人的援助与恩情，就永远不要忘记“Raise not others' faults. Stress not your own good points. Dismiss the memory of your good deeds, but preserve that of the good deeds done to you."Do not speak of others' shortcomings. Do not flaunt your own advantages. Do not dwell on your boons to others, but never forget the assistance you receive frorm others.
