著作：荀子（先秦）

翻译：肖兆华

君子曰：学不可以已。青，取之于蓝，而青于蓝；冰，水为之，而寒于水。木直中绳，輮以为轮，其曲中规。虽有槁暴，不复挺者，輮使之然也。故木受绳则直，金就砺则利，君子博学而日参省乎己，则知明而行无过矣。

Keep on learning and a student may surpass his teacher, for the indigo comes from bluegrass but it’s bluer than bluegrass, ice comes from water but it’s colder than water. Straight wood can be heated to bend into a circle which can be further made into a wheel. The round wood will not become straight again when it dries. This is the result of being heated with fire. Wood will be straight when measured with an ink line, and a steel sword will be sharp when polished with whetstone. It is of the same reason that if a man is well learned and daily examines himself, he will be wise and act correctly.

故不登高山，不知天之高也；不临深溪，不知地之厚也；不闻先王之遗言，不知学问之大也。干、越、夷、貉之子，生而同声，长而异俗，教使之然也。诗曰：“嗟尔君子，无恒安息。靖共尔位，好是正直。神之听之，介尔景福。”神莫大于化道，福莫长于无祸。

You will neither know how high the sky is until you climb to the top of a mountain, nor will you know how thick the earth is until you reach a deep stream. For the same reason, you will not be well learned without the last words of the former king. Babies of different ethnic groups had the same crying sound when they were born, but they had different customs and habits when they grew up. This is all due to influence of education. You are a gentleman, so you should not seek comfort all day long. You should respect your daily job and try to be a man of high morality. When God hears that you are struggling to be a true gentleman, He will bless you! The highest level of magic power is to understand the natural law, and well know how to make use of it. The greatest happiness is free from disease and disaster.

吾尝终日而思矣，不如须臾之所学也；吾尝跂而望矣，不如登高之博见也。登高而招，臂非加长也，而见者远；顺风而呼，声非加疾也，而闻者彰。假舆马者，非利足也，而致千里；假舟楫者，非能水也，而绝江河。君子生非异也，善假于物也。

Pondering all day long is not worth a moment of learning. By climbing the mountain, you will see farther than standing on tiptoe. The arm is not longer when waving high, but distant people can see. The sound is not louder when shouting with the wind, but more clearly. The strength of the foot is not stronger when riding on a horse, but you can go far. It doesn't mean that you can swim when using a boat, but you can advance on the water. A gentleman and others are of no difference in quality, except that he well knows how to use tools in the right way.

南方有鸟焉，名曰蒙鸠，以羽为巢，而编之以发，系之苇苕，风至苕折，卵破子死。巢非不完也，所系者然也。西方有木焉，名曰射干，茎长四寸，生于高山之上，而临百仞之渊，木茎非能长也，所立者然也。

In the South, there is a bird called Mengjiu。It builds its nest out of feathers. It ties its nest to the reeds. The wind has broken the reeds and its eggs. It’s not that the nest is weak, but that it’s tied in the wrong place. In the West, there is a kind of grass called Shegan growing in the high mountain. Its stem is four inches long. It can overlook many streams not because its stem becomes longer, but because it grows in a high place.

蓬生麻中，不扶而直；白沙在涅，与之俱黑。兰槐之根是为芷，其渐之滫，君子不近，庶人不服。其质非不美也，所渐者然也。故君子居必择乡，游必就士，所以防邪辟而近中正也。

Peng grass growing in hemp field can stand without support. White sand on the black soil is no longer white. Lanhuai root is called moxa, once immersed in stinky water, neither the gentlemen nor ordinary people will like it, and surly, no one will wear it. It’s not because the moxa itself is not fragrant, but because it is soaked smelly. So, a gentleman chooses a good living environment, and makes friends with people of morality. In so doing, they can prevent evil things and get close to right thoughts.

物类之起，必有所始。荣辱之来，必象其德。肉腐出虫，鱼枯生蠹。怠慢忘身，祸灾乃作。强自取柱，柔自取束。邪秽在身，怨之所构。施薪若一，火就燥也，平地若一，水就湿也。草木畴生，禽兽群焉，物各从其类也。是故质的张，而弓矢至焉；林木茂，而斧斤至焉；树成荫，而众鸟息焉。醯酸，而蚋聚焉。故言有招祸也，行有招辱也，君子慎其所立乎！

There must be a beginning for the rise of all things. The arrival of honor and disgrace must be associated with being good or bad in morality. The flesh is rotten with maggots and the fish with worms. Neglecting or forgetting the principles of life will bring disaster. Hard objects tend to break, and weak ones are easy to be bound. If you have evil thoughts, you are likely to attract resentment. Fire always goes to dry places while water flows to wet places. Just as weeds and trees grow together, birds and beasts live together. All things live with their own kind. When the target is set, arrows will naturally visit it. When trees grow into forests, they will be cut down for humankind’s use. Birds build their nests in shady trees. When vinegar goes sour, it attracts bugs. Words may bring trouble, and deeds may attract shame. Therefore, a gentleman has to be cautious whenever and wherever!

积土成山，风雨兴焉；积水成渊，蛟龙生焉；积善成德，而神明自得，圣心备焉。故不积跬步，无以至千里；不积小流，无以成江海。

The accumulated soil develops into mountains from which the wind and rain rise. The flood stream becomes an abyss where the dragon is born. Accumulate good deeds to develop noble character so that you will naturally have a clear mind and the realm of a saint. Without the accumulation of step-by-step itinerary, you cannot reach the distant destination. For the same reason, no accumulation of small steams, there would be neither rivers nor oceans in the world.

骐骥一跃，不能十步；驽马十驾，功在不舍。锲而舍之，朽木不折；锲而不舍，金石可镂。蚓无爪牙之利，筋骨之强，上食埃土，下饮黄泉，用心一也。蟹六跪而二螯，非蛇鳝之穴无可寄托者，用心躁也。是故无冥冥之志者，无昭昭之明；无惛惛之事者，无赫赫之功。

A fine horse jumps at most ten steps away, but an ordinary horse can get to its destination by ten days’ walking, which shows that success belongs to the persevering. Carving on and off cannot cut through even a piece of dead wood, while carving without stop can cut through a hard stone. The earthworm has neither sharp claws nor strong bones, but it can eat soil and drink water from the soil, this is all because of its dedication. The crab has six legs and two cockles, but without a burrow for snakes or eels, it would have nowhere to live, this is because its mind is restless. What mentioned above tells us that the spirit of effort-taking research is the prerequisite of the wisdom to see through everything, and that without a good solid work, no one can make illustrious achievement.

行衢道者不至，事两君者不容。目不能两视而明，耳不能两听而聪。螣蛇无足而飞，鼫鼠五技而穷。《诗》曰：“尸鸠在桑，其子七兮。淑人君子，其仪一兮。其仪一兮，心如结兮！”故君子结于一也。

He who walks in the wrong way cannot reach his destination. Neither side will tolerate the man who serves two kings. The eye cannot see clearly when it looks at two things at the same time, likewise, the ear cannot hear clearly when it listens to two sounds at the same time. The mighty snakes had no legs but could fly with their strength. Flying mice had five skills but none of them was highly skilled, so they died out in nature. Cuckoos build their nests in the mulberry forest and their young birds play in the branches. The virtuous gentleman acts exclusively and without bias, so, his determination is as firm as a rock. Therefore, the gentleman’s will is firm and single-minded.

昔者瓠巴鼓瑟，而流鱼出听；伯牙鼓琴，而六马仰秣。故声无小而不闻，行无隐而不形。玉在山而草木润，渊生珠而崖不枯。为善不积邪？安有不闻者乎？

Once upon a time when Huba played his harp, all the fish in the water came up to listen, and when Boya played his musical instrument, all the six horses that drew the cart raised their heads to listen. No matter how small a voice is, it will be heard; no matter how hidden an action is, it will be discovered. The flowers, grass and trees on a mountain having jade appear moist and shiny. If the mountain pool can cultivate beautiful beads, the cliff will not appear dull and desolate. So long you keep doing good deeds day after day, you will surely be known.

学恶乎始？恶乎终？曰：其数则始乎诵经，终乎读礼；其义则始乎为士，终乎为圣人，真积力久则入，学至乎没而后止也。故学数有终，若其义则不可须臾舍也。为之，人也；舍 之，禽兽也。故书者，政事之纪也；诗者，中声之所止也；礼者，法之大分，类之纲纪也。故学至乎礼而止矣。夫是之谓道德之极。礼之敬文也，乐之中和也，诗书之博也，春秋之微 也，在天地之间者毕矣。

What should our learning begin with, and what should our learning end in? Our learning should start from “the Book of Songs” to “the Book of Rites”. The meaning of learning for a man is beginning as a young scholar and ending as a saint. Continuous and earnest hard work will surely lead to success, and go on learning so long as you live. Although the school course has an end, the desire to forge ahead cannot have a moment of slack. Lifelong learning characterizes a human being from animals. Shangshu is the record of political affairs, the Book of Songs is the voice from man’s inner heart, the Book of Rites is the premise of the legal system as well as the general outline of various regulations. Therefore, continue your learning till to etiquette so as to reach the peak of morality. The Book of Rites respects the etiquette, while the Book of Music tells what the sound of harmony means. The Book of Songs is of very broad knowledge, and the Spring and Autumn Period covers all the universal knowledge between the heaven and the earth with its simple and understandable language.

君子之学也，入乎耳，着乎心，布乎四体，形乎动静。端而言，蝡而动，一可以为法则。小人之学也，入乎耳，出乎口；口耳之间，则四寸耳，曷足以美七尺之躯哉！古之学者为己，今之学者为人。君子之学也，以美其身；小人之学也，以为禽犊。故不问而告谓之傲，问一而告二谓之囋。傲、非也，囋、非也；君子如向矣。

A gentleman keeps in mind what his teacher teaches him. The knowledge he has learned is manifested in his dignified manners and proper behaviors. His every move, including the most unimportant words, should conform to etiquette. His behaviors can be modeled by others and becomes an example for others to follow. The distance between the ear and the mouth is only four inches, how can you increase your personal charm by boasting of the little knowledge you’ve just learned. Ancient people studied to improve themselves, but people today study for self-boasting. A gentleman studies for enhancing his self-cultivation, while a villain does so for pretending to be a well learned man. To tell the answer before the student puts forward his question will affect his independent thinking, and to give over more detailed answer will affect his continuous thinking on the basis of preliminary understanding. Not being calm, and talking too much are both wrong, a gentleman should answer questions, like an echo in a canyon, just in the right way.

学莫便乎近其人。礼乐法而不说，诗书故而不切，春秋约而不速。方其人之习君子之说，则尊以遍矣，周于世矣。故曰：学莫便乎近其人。

There is nothing better for a learner than having a good teacher. The Book of Rites and the Book of Music record the legal system without detailed description. The Book of Songs and the Book of Shangshu talk about the past, but not close to the present. The words in the Spring and Autumn Period are simple and concise, but not easy to understand quickly. Learning from a good teacher is both noble and comprehensive, and helpful to correctly understanding the world affairs. Therefore, the easiest way to master useful knowledge is to get a qualified teacher.

学之经莫速乎好其人，隆礼次之。上不能好其人，下不能隆礼，安特将学杂识志，顺诗书而已耳。则末世穷年，不免为陋儒而已。将原先王，本仁义，则礼正其经纬蹊径也。若挈裘领，诎五指而顿之，顺者不可胜数也。不道礼宪，以诗书为之，譬之犹以指测河也，以戈舂黍也，以锥餐壶也，不可以得之矣。故隆礼，虽未明，法士也；不隆礼，虽察辩，散儒也。

Respect for good teachers is the most convenient way to learn, followed by the worship of propriety. Respect neither for teachers nor for propriety, just mechanically recite the sentences of the Book of Songs and Shangshu, one can at most be a shallow scholar all his life. To study the sages’ wisdom and seek the root of benevolence and righteousness, one should start his learning with the rites. If you can grasp the key part of the matter, the problem is easy to solve. Pay no attention to ceremony and law, and handle affairs only by the sentences of the Book of Songs and Shangshu, you will find it difficult to succeed. Respect etiquette, even if the knowledge is not clearly mastered, you can still be regarded as a man of high morality. With no respect for etiquette, even if having mastered some knowledge and the skill in debate, you will still be regarded as a shallow scholar of too much liberty.

问楛者，勿告也；告楛者，勿问也；说楛者，勿听也。有争气者，勿与辩也。故必由其道至，然后接之；非其道则避之。故礼恭，而后可与言道之方；辞顺，而后可与言道之理；色从而后可与言道之致。故未可与言而言，谓之傲；可与言而不言，谓之隐；不观气色而言，谓瞽。故君子不傲、不隐、不瞽，谨顺其身。诗曰：“匪交匪舒，天子所予。”此之谓也。

Give no answer to a question that does not conform to etiquette. If the answer is not in line with etiquette, ask no more. Do not listen to those whose words are against etiquette. Never argue with someone whose attitude is very aggressive. Therefore, we only talk with those whose behavior conforms to etiquette and refuse those whose behavior is against etiquette. You can talk with someone who respects others about the purpose of Tao. You can talk with someone who speaks gently about the content of Tao. You can talk with someone who has an honest attitude about the profound meaning of Tao. So, talking to someone you should not talk to is impetuous. You refuse someone you should talk to is arrogant. It is blind to keep talking without seeing the listener’s response. So, a gentleman should not be impetuous, not arrogant, not blind, he should carefully treat everyone who comes to ask for advice. It is said in the Book of Songs that the Son of Sovereignty praises those who are neither impetuous nor arrogant. That’s what I want to talk about!

百发失一，不足谓善射；千里蹞步不至，不足谓善御；伦类不通，仁义不一，不足谓善学。学也者，固学一之也。一出焉，一入焉，涂巷之人也；其善者少，不善者多，桀纣盗跖也；全之尽之，然后学者也。

He is not a good archer who shoots a hundred arrows and misses the mark with one. He is not a good driver to drive a carriage a thousand miles with half a step to go. He is not a good learner who can’t master the theory and norms of benevolence and righteousness, nor can he stick to the principles of benevolence and righteousness. Learning is something that requires a man’s concentration. Those are common people in towns who do their learning on and off. Such people as Jie, Zhou, and Tuo did little good, but much bad. A true scholar is one who can grasp the knowledge thoroughly, and comprehensively.

君子知夫不全不粹之不足以为美也，故诵数以贯之，思索以通之，为其人以处之，除其害者以持养之。使目非是无欲见也，使耳非是无欲闻也，使口非是无欲言也，使心非是无欲虑也。及至其致好之也，目好之五色，耳好之五声，口好之五味，心利之有天下。是故权利不能倾也，群众不能移也，天下不能荡也。生乎由是，死乎由是，夫是之谓德操。德操然后能定，能定然后能应。能定能应，夫是之谓成人。天见其明，地见其光，君子贵其全也。

A gentleman knows no one can be perfect without intensive and extensive learning. He can well digest what he has learned through comprehensive study, grasp the key meaning through thinking, and correct his mistakes and bad habits by following good teachers and friends. A gentleman should refuse to see, hear, say, and think of evil things. When you achieve the ideal situation of being completely immersed in learning, you will find that the world is as beautiful as the rainbow, with euphony and nice smell all around you. Once you reach this high level, you will be free from evil thoughts of power desires. You will stand up to crowd with numerical strength, and nothing in the world can shake your faith. He who lives so and keeps unchanged to death is a man of virtue and integrity, and such a man must be both determined and flexible. A man of determination and flexibility must be a mature and perfect one. When that time comes, just as the heaven shows its brightness and the earth shows its vastness, the gentleman will show his value in the perfection of virtue.