Famous quotes from historical records:

1. Never forgetting the past is the teacher of the future.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: The Chronicles of Qin Shihuang".

Translation: Learn from past experiences and lessons, which can be used as a reference for the future.

Appreciation: Use past gains and losses as a reference for the future, that is, look back to the past and encourage the future. Some people regret their past mistakes, and some people show off their past successes. However, if they are just immersed in regrets and showing off without realizing that the past will repeat itself or that success will not come back in the future, it will not be helpful to the success of the future career. Therefore, we must learn from past successful experiences and lessons from failures to prevent mistakes from happening again in the future. It would be beneficial not to make the same mistakes as in the past. In this regard, our predecessors have summarized extremely valuable experience for us.

2. Xiang Zhuang’s sword dance was aimed at Pei Gong.

Note: Selected from "Historical Records of Xiang Yu". Meaning: intention.

Translation: The purpose of Xiang Zhuang's sword dance is to assassinate Liu Bang.

Appreciation: "Historical Records" records that Liu Bang went to Hongmen to meet Xiang Yu, and Xiang Yu invited him to have a banquet. The counselor Fan Zeng asked Xiang Zhuang to dance with his sword for fun, and prepared to take the opportunity to kill Liu Bang. Liu Bang's counselor Zhang Liang said to Fan Kuai: "Now Xiangzhuang is dancing with the sword, and his intention is always with Pei Gong." Later, it was used as a metaphor for speaking or acting, although the words or actions may have other names on the surface, but in fact they want to take advantage of the opportunity to harm others.

3. If the family is poor, one will miss a good wife; if the country is in chaos, one will miss a good husband.

For comment, select "Historical Records of the Wei Family". Si: yearn for, yearn for. Chaos: chaos, turmoil.

Translation: A poor family will long for a virtuous wife, and a country in turmoil will long for a talented prime minister.

Appreciation: When Wei Wen was candidate for prime minister, there were two candidates, one was Wei Chengzi and the other was Zhai Huang. Wei Wenhou didn't know who to choose and was hesitant, so he went to ask Li Ke for his opinion. Li Ke said: "In normal times, he examines the people he is close to, when he is rich and powerful, he examines the people he associates with, when he is an official, he considers the people he recommends, when he is poor, he examines the things he does not do, and when he is poor, he examines the things he does not want." Here, Li Ke said: Ke raised the issue of how to identify and select talents. That is to say, to see how a person's moral character is, it is mainly to see how he behaves when facing poverty and wealth, humbleness and prosperity, rather than to listen to his boasting. Only those who are consistent in their words and deeds, and who are consistent in appearance and deeds, can be called a gentleman. Only by winning people in this way can we take on the important task of helping the crisis and calming down the situation, and sorting out the chaos and establishing governance.

4. Take a bath three times to catch your hair, eat a meal and spit out food three times.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: The Family of Zhou Lugong". Mu: Wash your hair. To spit out: To spit out the food eaten in the mouth.

Translation Wash your head once, lift your hair three times, eat a meal and spit out the food in your mouth three times, in order to receive visitors.

Appreciation Zhou Gong warned Bo Qin: I am the son of King Wen, the brother of King Wu, and the uncle of King Cheng. In terms of status, I am not lowly in the world. However, I still wash my hair three times, spit out my food three times, and get up frequently to receive visitors, for fear of losing talented people in the world. It shows that Duke Zhou knows how to respect talents, treats scholars sincerely and attaches great importance to people. It also shows that talents are extremely important to governing the country and bringing peace to the world.

5. A person with sufficient food and clothing knows honor and disgrace.

Notes

Selected from "Historical Records: Biography of Guan Yan". Canglin: warehouse. Real: substantial. Honor and disgrace: glory and shame.

Translation

If the warehouses are abundant, the people will know etiquette; if food and clothing are abundant, the people will know honor and shame.

Appreciation

After Guan Zhong became the Prime Minister of Qi and presided over government affairs, he shared the likes and dislikes with the people, circulated goods, and accumulated assets, which quickly made Qi State rich and powerful. Guan Zhong's saying, "A warehouse is solid and you know the etiquette; if you have enough food and clothing, you know the honor and disgrace" has also become the guiding ideology of Qi State's self-improvement and prosperity. When the people live a prosperous life and the treasury is full of wealth, etiquette can be carried forward and government orders can flow smoothly. Guan Zhong grasped the fundamentals of governing the country. After many years of governance, the state of Qi gradually became strong and prosperous, becoming the first hegemon in the Spring and Autumn Period. There is also a record in history of Duke Huan of Qi that "nine princes combined to unite the world."

13. A scholar will die for a confidant, and a woman will tolerate a confidant.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: Biographies of Assassins". Shi: A general term for men. Confidant: Someone who understands oneself, a good friend. Said: Tongyue, makes you happy, makes you like it. Content: decoration.

Translation A man is willing to die for someone who understands and appreciates him, and a beautiful woman is willing to modify her appearance for someone who admires her.

Appreciation Yurang, a native of the Jin Dynasty, once served Fan Zhongxing's family, but was not reused. He later became Zhibo's retainer, and Zhibo respected him very much. Later, Zhibo was killed by Zhao Xiangzi. Yurang swore: "A scholar will die for a confidant." So he changed his name, disguised himself, and assassinated Zhao Xiangzi many times, but failed and committed suicide. This famous saying that has been passed down through the ages reveals a common human mentality of repaying kindness.

15. A loving mother has a failed son, but the Yan family has no one.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: Biography of Li Si". Gru: A cunning and fierce slave.

Translation: A loving mother has a prodigal child, and a strict family does not have a cunning and fierce slave.

Appreciation This is a memorial in which Li Si made suggestions to cater to the brutal greed of Qin II after the outbreak of the peasant uprising in the late Qin Dynasty. It is also a sign of the decline of the theory of fortune pursued by Li Si.

He borrowed the phrase "a loving mother has a spoiled son, but a strict family has no prisoners" to persuade the second generation of Qin to implement harsh policies. He believed that the reason why a wise monarch is wise is that he can strictly investigate minor crimes, so that his subjects will not Dare to break the law. This idea is the inevitable product of the politics of fortune. It marks that the doctrine of fortune has changed from a progressive idea of ??enriching the country and strengthening the army to a reactionary argument that promoted the demise of Qin. It did not play any positive and progressive role at the turning point of history and will Compared with the "Book of Remonstrance and Chasing Guests", it is the same Li Si but two completely different people. But under the feudal autocratic system, even if there were wise emperors who did not become thieves of the people, there was no emperor who was not a single husband. How to handle the relationship between monarch and minister, the relationship between the master and the people is a knowledge that emperors of all dynasties must be proficient in, otherwise the emperor's dignity, power, interests and absolute rule will be endangered. Therefore, Li Si's advice to persuade Qin II to implement harsh rule had a significant impact on all dynasties. Reading it today is not only a rare self-confession on the politics of the Qin Dynasty, but also a rare textbook on the entire feudal society. To be uncritical will lead you astray.

16. A wise man will lose something after a thousand worries; a fool will gain something after a thousand worries.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: Biography of the Marquis of Huaiyin". Wisdom: cleverness, wisdom. Consider: Think, plan. Stupid: stupid, ignorant. Get: get, gain.

Translation A smart person will always make a mistake in a thousand considerations; a stupid person will always make a gain in the last consideration.

Appreciation: These idioms contain a simple dialectical thought, which shows that everything is divided into two. A smart person cannot always be smart. He also makes mistakes. As long as he treats the mistakes correctly , can it be reduced to a minimum. On the contrary, even a seemingly stupid person may be smart sometimes, and as long as he learns, he will gain something.

17. It is better to get a hundred catties of gold than to get a promise of Jibu.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: Biography of Ji Bu Luan Bu". Nuo: Promise, promise.

Getting a hundred catties of gold for the translation is not as good as getting a promise from Ji Bu.

Appreciation This is a proverb that was circulated in the Chu region at that time. It is also a heartfelt appreciation for Ji Bu's chivalrous character of "Keeping his word, being resolute in his deeds, being true to his promises, and being faithful even if he does not love his bows." It shows that a man must mean what he says, keep his word, and be responsible for what he says. The idiom "a promise of a thousand gold" comes from this.

18. If his body is upright, he will not do what he is told; if his body is not upright, he will not do what he is told.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: Biography of General Li". Body: oneself, itself. Zheng: decent, upright. Order: issue an order. Xing: do, perform. Obey: obey, obey.

The translation is that the person in a superior position himself behaves well, and even if he does not give orders, people will obey them. People in power do not behave properly, and even if they give orders, people will not obey them.

Appreciation of this sentence comes from "The Analects of Confucius". Sima Qian quoted this sentence to praise General Li's character, saying that he was sincere and simple. Although he was not good at talking, when he died, no matter who the world knew about him People and people who didn't know him mourned him terribly. His quality has indeed won the trust of scholar-bureaucrats. This also illustrates the truth that as a ruler, you must set an example everywhere, be the first to set an example, and inspire the world not with words but with your own actions, and "execution from above" can make your country prosper. Otherwise, "the upper beam is not straight and the lower beam is crooked", it will lead to the defeat of the country, the separation of people's hearts, and the emergence of social chaos and disorder.

19. When the birds are gone, the good bow is hidden. (The cunning rabbit dies, and the lackeys cook it; the enemy's country is destroyed, and the adviser dies.)

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: The Family of King Goujian of Yue". Finished: Finished. Good: good, excellent.

Translation: After the birds have been captured, it is natural for the good bows to be collected.

Appreciation: Being favored by the master in good times will often lead to disaster. Therefore, when a person is satisfied with his ambition and achieves success, he should retreat bravely and accept the good news. Because "Those who have great achievements and shock the master are in danger, but those who are famous all over the world will not be rewarded." "The bow will be broken when it is full, and it will be missing when the moon is full." "Wherever there is fame and fortune, taking a step back will make you safe, but just moving forward will be dangerous." Zhang Liang, Fan Li and others retreated after their achievements, and bravely retreated from the rapids, which often made future generations sigh and admire them; However, Li Si died for his contribution to the establishment of the Qin State, and he wailed, "How can you go out to reward Cai Dongmen and chase cunning rabbits?" This just illustrates the path of the saying "the higher you climb, the harder you fall". In fact, "lucky" people know very well the principle of "taking it when it comes". They are always willing to revise their strategies according to changes in circumstances in order to seize good opportunities and escape unscathed. And some people who are "unlucky" in their careers are often self-willed and arrogant. They don't know when to change their strategies to reduce losses, and in the end they often end up ruined.

20. When a bird is about to die, its song is mournful; when a man is about to die, his words are also kind.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: Funny Biographies". Good: Friendly, kind.

Translation: When a bird is about to die, its cry is sad; when a man is about to die, his words are also kind.

Appreciation of this famous saying that has been passed down through the ages is a penetrating insight summed up by people in the world after long-term observation of the human nature of birds. It shows that kindness is the original face of human beings, and that when people come to the end of their lives, At that time, I returned to the realm of kindness, always willing to dedicate my best things and leave beautiful memories to people.

21. If you don’t sing, it will be a blockbuster.

The annotation is selected from "Historical Records: Funny Biographies".

It doesn’t matter if the translation is called, it will shock people once it is called.

Appreciate that King Qi Wei likes to use cryptic words, that is, words that do not directly state the matter but use other words to imply it. Once, Chunyu said to him in cryptic language: "There is a big bird in the country. It has stopped in the king's court. It has not flown or screamed for three years. What does the king know about this bird?" The king said: "This bird is gone if it does not fly. Once it flies, it soars into the sky. "If it doesn't sing, it will make a big splash." This bird is a metaphor for King Qi Wei. He uses the big bird to soar into the sky to describe that although he is silent for the time being, he is actually fully prepared and will be shocked once he takes action. The lofty actions of the world fully expressed King Qi Wei's lofty ambitions and ideals, and subsequent historical facts also confirmed the accuracy of King Qi Wei's self-explanation.