A gentleman does not mirror water, but mirrors people. If a mirror is held in water, one can see one's appearance; if one is held in a mirror, one can know good or bad luck.
Explanation A gentleman does not use water as a mirror, but uses other people as a mirror. If you use water as a mirror, you can see your appearance; if you use a person as a mirror, you can know good or bad luck.
2. Don’t respond without being prepared.
Definition: Same as "sudden", referring to sudden events. The general idea of ??these two sentences is: If you don't think about how to deal with the incident in advance, you can't cope with sudden changes.
3. If you love others, others will love them; if you benefit others, others will benefit from them; if you hate others, others will hate them; if you harm others, others will harm you.
Interpretation: If you love others, others will love you; if you are beneficial to others, others will benefit you; if you hate others, others will hate you; if you harm others, others will also harm you.
4. Those who are not strong in ambition are not wise, and those who do not believe in their words will not achieve results. Those who cannot share wealth with others are not enough to make friends. Those who adhere to the Tao but do not adhere to the truth, are partial to things but do not learn a lot, and argue about right and wrong without observing it, are deficient and wandering.
Interpretation: If you are not strong-willed, your wisdom will not be high; if you are not trustworthy in your words, your actions will not be decisive; if you have wealth but refuse to share it with others, it is not worth making friends with him; if you are not firm in keeping the Tao, If he does not have extensive experience in things and does not know the difference between right and wrong, he is not worth socializing with.
5. There is no beginning and no end to things, and there is no business and many undertakings.
Analysis: If one thing cannot have a beginning and an end, don’t worry about other things; if you don’t understand anything, don’t pursue erudition.
6. It is difficult to draw a good bow, but you can reach the heights of an expert; it is difficult to ride a good horse, but you can carry out heavy tasks and long distances.
Explanation: A good bow is difficult to draw, but it can shoot high and deep; a good horse is difficult to control, but it can carry a heavy load and travel far.
7. If the world loves each other, it will be governed, but if it harms each other, it will lead to chaos.
Explanation: If everyone loves each other, the world will be peaceful; if everyone is hostile to each other, the world will be in chaos. Mohism advocates universal love. Universal love refers to loving different people or things at the same time. Mozi advocated that there is no distinction between levels of love, whether thick or thin, close or distant.
8. Therefore, the gentleman finds it difficult for himself and finds it easy for others, and everyone finds it easy for him but finds it difficult for others.
Explanation Therefore, a gentleman is strict with himself and lenient with others, while a mediocre person is lenient with himself and strict with others.