![]() |
Not to talk to one who could be talked to, is to waste a man. To talk to those who cannot be talked to, is to waste one’s words. He who is truly wise never wastes a man; but on the other hand, he never wastes his words.
可与言而不与之言，失人；不可与言而语之言，失言；知者不失人，亦不失言。
A craftsman, if he means to do good work, must first sharpen his tools.
工欲善其事，必先利其器。
Learning may incidentally lead to high pay. But a gentlman’s anxieties concern the progress of the way; he has not anxiety concerning poverty.
学也，禄在其中。君子忧道不忧贫。
In serving one’s prince, on should be: intent upon the task, not bent upon the pay.
事君，敬其事而后其食。
There are three things that a gentleman fears: he fears the will of heaven, he fears great men, he fears the word of the divine sages.
君子有三畏：畏天命，畏大人，畏圣人之言。
Highest are those who are born wise. Next are those who become wise by learning. After them come those who have to toil painfully in order to acquire learning. Finally, to the lowest class of the common people belong those who toil painfully without ever managing to learn.
生而知之者，上也。学而知之者，次也。困而学之，又其次也。困而不学，民斯为下也。
It is by dwelling in seclusion that they seek the fulfillment of their aims.
隐居以求其志。
It is only the very wisest and the very stupidest who cannot change.
惟有上智与下愚不移。
Women and people of low birth are very hard to deal with. If you are friendly with them, they get out of hand, and if ou keep your distance, they resent it.
惟女子与小人为难养也，近之则不逊，远之则怨。
A gentleman has three varying aspects: seen from afar, he looks severe, when approach ed he is found to be mild, when heard speaking he turns out to be incisive.
君子有三变：望之俨然，即之也温，听其言也厉。
|
|
 |
 |
|
