Those who love others will always be loved by others; those who respect others will always be respected by others. ——"Mencius·Li Lou Xia"
[Interpretation] People who love others will always love them, and respect others. Others will always respect them. How you treat others will often be treated in the same way. To be respected and loved, you must respect and love others. Heng: Often.
If you don’t follow the rules, you can’t make a square or a circle. ——"Mencius Li Lou Shang"
[Interpretation] Without compasses and rulers, rectangles and circles cannot be drawn. We must abide by certain rules and regulations in our lives and in doing things. Otherwise, everyone will do their own thing and everything will be in chaos. Rules: Rules and moments, two tools for correcting circles and squares, are metaphors for standards and regulations.
A person who has enough food and clothing knows about honor and disgrace. ——"Guanzi·Herdsmen"
[Interpretation] Only when the granaries are abundant can the people understand the etiquette system; only when the food and clothing are abundant can the people know honor and shame. Material civilization is the basis of spiritual civilization. Those who govern a country must first consider the lives of the people. Lin (lǐn): granary. Real: substantial.
A difference of a hair is a thousand miles away. ——"Book of Rites·Jingjing"
[Interpretation] There is a small mistake at the beginning. If it is not corrected in time, it will eventually lead to a big mistake. Everything is difficult at the beginning, and you must be cautious at the beginning; you must strive for excellence and meticulousness when conducting scientific research, otherwise it will cause heavy losses. Millimeter: A small unit of measurement, describing very few or extremely small. Miù: Error.
A ruler is short, an inch is long; things are deficient, wisdom is unclear. ——Warring States Period·Chu·Qu Yuan's "Buju"
[Interpretation] Although the ruler is longer than the inch, it appears shorter when compared with longer things. Although the inch is shorter than the ruler, it appears shorter than the shorter things. When things are compared, they appear long; things always have their shortcomings, and wise people always have their unwiseness. People or things have their own strengths and weaknesses. We should not blame them for perfection, but should use their strengths and avoid weaknesses.
The right person will get a lot of help, but the wrong person will get little help. ——"Mencius·Gongsun Chou"
[Interpretation] With the truth, those who are in line with justice will get help from more people, while those who violate the truth and are unjust will rarely get help. It tells us that truth and justice are invincible.
To study alone without friends is to be lonely and ignorant. ——"Book of Rites·Xue Ji"
[Interpretation] If you just study alone without friends to discuss with you, you will be ignorant. Study partners have been proven to benefit learning progress.
Wealth cannot be lascivious, poverty cannot be moved, power cannot be subdued. ——"Mencius·Teng Wen Gong"
[Interpretation] Wealth and honor cannot make him confused, poverty and lowliness cannot make him change his moral integrity, and power cannot make his will surrender. Only by achieving these three points can one be called a man. Mencius's words have been passed down from generation to generation and have inspired countless Chinese people.
The high bank is the valley, and the deep valley is the mausoleum. ——"The Book of Songs·The Turn of October"
[Interpretation] The highlands turned into valleys, and the deep valleys turned into mountains. According to scientific speculation, the Himalayas were a vast ocean 70 million years ago, and the sea turned into mulberry fields, which is a metaphor for the ever-changing world. It also means that things always transform into their opposite under certain conditions.
If a worker wants to do his job well, he must first sharpen his tools. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Wei Linggong"
[Interpretation] If a craftsman wants to do his job well, he must sharpen his tools in advance. It can be seen from this that if a person wants to be competent at work, he must first learn the skills well. If you read good books today, you will be able to make great achievements tomorrow.
Therefore, if wood is supported by a rope, it will be straight, and if metal is sharpened, it will be beneficial. ——"Xunzi Encouraging Learning"
[Interpretation] Wood becomes straight after being processed by straight lines drawn with carpentry ink lines (woodworking tools); metal objects can be sharpened after being sharpened on a whetstone. These two metaphors are used to illustrate that after people learn, temper and reflect on themselves, they will become wiser, stop making mistakes, and become stronger. Li (lì): whetstone.
If you are good, you will know its evil; if you are evil, you will know its beauty.
——"Book of Rites·University"
[Interpretation] For the person you like, you must know his shortcomings and do not show favoritism; for the person you dislike, you must know his advantages and do not obliterate them. When we evaluate a person, we must be objective and fair, not emotional, and not biased because of our own good or bad qualities.
Good (hào): like. Former "evil" (è): flaws and ugliness. Later "evil" (wù): hate, hate.
Misfortune lies on the back of blessing, and blessing lies on the back of misfortune. ——"Laozi"
[Interpretation] Disaster depends on happiness, and happiness lurks disaster. It tells us that misfortunes and blessings can transform into each other under certain conditions. We should be prepared for danger in times of peace and should not be discouraged if we are in adversity. Xi (xī): modal particle, equivalent to "ah".
Yi (yǐ): rely on. Fu: latent, hidden.
Don’t do to others what you don’t want others to do to you. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan"
[Interpretation] If you don't like it, don't impose it on others. Hunger and cold are something you don't like, so don't impose it on others; shame is something you don't like, so don't impose it on others. Compare yourself to others, think about your own benefits and harms to others, and think more about others. This is a principle that should be followed throughout your life. Desire: Want, hope. Don’t (wù): Don’t. Shi: add, give.
The beauty of a gentleman is not the evil of an adult, but the villain is. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Yan Yuan"
[Interpretation] A gentleman fulfills the good deeds of others and does not contribute to the bad deeds of others. The villain is just the opposite. If an adult is beautiful and accumulates good deeds and becomes virtuous, he becomes a gentleman; if an adult is evil and accumulates resentments more and more, he becomes a villain. A gentleman is respected by others, while a villain is reviled. Gentleman: A person of noble character. Villain: refers to a person with a despicable personality. On the contrary: the opposite of this.
A gentleman is magnanimous, but a villain is always worried. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Shu Er"
[Interpretation] A gentleman's heart is flat and broad, but a villain is often cramped and worried. A gentleman is open-minded, content with poverty, be kind to others, and always content with his content, so he can be magnanimous. Villains have too many desires, worry about gains and losses, are worried, blame others, and feel uneasy, so they often feel sad. Magnanimous: open-minded and free-spirited. Qi Qi: Looks worried and uneasy.
The connection between a gentleman is like water, and the connection between a villain is like wine. ——"Book of Rites·Biaoji"
[Interpretation] A gentleman's friendship is as plain as water, while a villain's friendship is like sweet wine (strong and sweet). The friendship between gentlemen does not seek fame and gain from each other or takes advantage of each other, so it appears plain and natural, so it can last for a long time; the friendship between villains has the intention of profiting and taking advantage of each other, so it is inevitable to avoid hypocrisy, pretentiousness, and sweet talk. , so it is difficult to last. Contact: contact, communication. Li (lǐ): sweet wine.
Reciprocate courtesy. It is impolite to go but not come; it is impolite to come but not go. ——"Book of Rites·Qu Li Shang"
[Interpretation] Etiquette focuses on mutual interactions: if there is going but no coming, it is not in line with etiquette; if there is going but no going, it is not in line with etiquette. In interpersonal interactions, people should treat each other as equals and help each other. Shang: The important thing is.
Flowing water does not rot, and door hinges do not suffer from beetles. ——"Lu's Spring and Autumn Annals"
[Interpretation] Flowing water will not go rancid, and door shafts that often rotate will not be eaten by insects. It is a metaphor that things that move frequently are not easily corroded and can remain unchanged for a long time. This sentence vividly illustrates the great significance of "movement": life lies in movement, the brain lies in movement, and talents also need to flow. Everything in the universe is in motion. Without movement, there would be no world. Fu: rancid. Door pivot (shū): the hinge of the door. beetle (dù): moth erosion.
If you are full, you will suffer losses, but if you are humble, you will benefit. ——"Book·Dayu Mo"
[Interpretation] Pride and complacency will inevitably lead to losses, while modesty and caution will gain benefits. Many facts in history prove the truth of this famous saying. Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty was able to listen to the opinions of his ministers with an open mind, and the country was governed very well, and the peaceful and prosperous era of the "Zhenguan Rule" appeared. However, in his later years, he became proud and complacent, and suffered a tragic failure when he attacked Goryeo (North Korea).
Tang Xuanzong was considered wise in the days when he first ascended the throne as emperor. After achieving political and economic achievements, he became proud, which led to the "Anshi Rebellion" and the decline of the Tang Dynasty.
Be sensitive to things but cautious in speaking. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Xue Er"
[Interpretation] Be diligent and agile in doing things and cautious in speaking. This sentence tells us that as a human being, we should do more practical things, talk less nonsense, and don't talk nonsense. Min: Diligent, fast. Shen: cautious, prudent.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. ——"Laozi Chapter 64"
[Interpretation] A journey of thousands of miles begins with the first step. It is a metaphor that success in anything starts from scratch and is gradually accumulated from small to large. Everything is difficult at the beginning. Without a beginning, there will be no results. Everything must start from small things bit by bit.
If you persevere and embrace it, the rotten wood will not be broken; if you persevere and persevere, gold and stone can be carved. ——"Xunzi Encouraging Learning"
[Interpretation] If you carve for a while and then give up, even rotten wood will keep carving; if you keep carving, even gold and stone can be successfully carved. This metaphor is intended to illustrate that in learning and doing things, only by perseverance can we achieve success; if we only try superficially, we will achieve nothing.锲(qiè), 镕(lòu): carving.
People who have no faith do not know what is possible. ——"The Analects·Wei Zheng"
[Interpretation] If a person is not trustworthy, I don't know what he should do. Confucius believed that if a person is not trustworthy, he will not be able to move forward. From today's perspective, the same is true for a company, a nation, and a country. Since China has joined the WTO, it must abide by the rules and be honest in order to develop in the face of competition.
Everyone can be like Yao and Shun. ——"Mencius Gaozi II"
[Interpretation] Everyone can become a saint like Yao and Shun. Mencius believed that if an ordinary person wanted to become Yao, Shun, a wise man, or a saint, the key was to "do." If he could act in accordance with the thoughts, words and deeds of Yao and Shun in everything, he would also become Yao and Shun. What? It can also be seen from here that the power of role models is infinite. If you can set a good example for yourself and follow the thoughts, words and deeds of the role model, you will be able to grow quickly. Yao and Shun: Tang Yao and Yu Shun were the kings of ancient times.
No one has any faults, but if he can correct his faults, there is no greater good. ——"Zuo Zhuan: The Second Year of Xuangong"
[Interpretation] Who has no mistakes? If you have mistakes, you can correct them. This is the greatest good thing! During the Spring and Autumn Period, Duke Linggong of Jin was a tyrant. Once, the chef's bear paws were not cooked enough, so he ordered the chef to be killed. Minister Shi Ji went to the palace to admonish him, but before he could say anything, Jin Linggong said: "I know I was wrong, and I will correct it in the future." In fact, his words focused on the previous sentence, just to block Shi Ji with these words. I don't really want to correct my mistakes. Shi Ji said: "~,~,~." Shi Ji's words focused on the word "change". If you know your mistakes, you must correct them, and bad things will become good things. Mo Dayan: There is nothing bigger than this.
If a person can do it once, he can do it a hundred times; if a person can do it ten times, he can do it a thousand times. ——"Book of Rites· Doctrine of the Mean"
[Interpretation] (If you are not as smart as others, then) others can learn it well with just one cent of effort, so you should spend 100% of your efforts to learn it well; others spend ten cents. If you can learn it well with your own strength, you should put in a thousand efforts to learn it well. This sentence shows that people should strengthen themselves and not be left behind. With the mentality of self-improvement, you will inevitably be diligent. "Diligence can make up for weakness", and people who were not smart enough will become smarter.
It’s like discussing and discussing, like polishing. ——"The Book of Songs·Weifeng·Qi'ao"
[Interpretation] Like cutting, like digging, like digging, like grinding. qiē cuō zhuó mó: originally refers to processing bones, ivory, jade, stone, etc. into utensils. Later it was extended to academic research and discussion. Refers to research and study together and learn from each other's strengths.
When three of us travel together, we must be my teacher. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Shuer"
[Interpretation] Three people are walking together, and among them there must be someone who can be my teacher.
Everyone has corresponding skills and strengths, and there is something worth learning. As long as you learn from others humbly, you will definitely find a teacher who can teach you.
Think before you act. ——"The Analects·Gongye Chang"
[Interpretation] Take action after repeated consideration. This applies to those who act recklessly. Three: multiple times.
Born in sorrow and died in happiness. ——"Mencius Gaozi II"
[Interpretation] People can grow up by worrying about disasters, or they can perish in ease and enjoyment. A harsh environment can temper people and make them stronger to survive and develop; a happy life can easily corrode people, make them decadent and even perish.
Life is beneficial to people, but death is not harmful to people. ——"Book of Rites·Tan ??Gong Shang"
[Interpretation] In life, one should be a person who is beneficial to the people, and should not be a "ghost" that harms others even after death.
Win without arrogance, lose without resentment. ——"The Book of Shang Jun: The Law of War"
[Interpretation] Don't be proud when you win a battle, don't complain when you lose a battle. When you win a battle, you are not proud because the victory comes from your tactical skills and are not worth being proud of. When you lose a battle, you are not proud because you know where you made your mistakes and you can no longer blame others or God. Not being arrogant or resentful is conducive to continuing the fight.
A sage will surely lose something if he worries a lot; a fool will gain something if he worries a lot. ——"Yanzi Chunqiu·Miscellaneous"
[Interpretation] When great people think about problems, they will inevitably make omissions; fools may also come up with some useful opinions after careful thinking. Chekhov said that when a big dog barks, a small dog will also bark. A small dog should not be afraid to bark because of the presence of a big dog. Fools should not give up their thinking because of the existence of saints.
It takes ten years to grow trees and a hundred years to cultivate people. ——"Guanzi·Xiuquan"
[Interpretation] The original text is: "A one-year plan is better than planting a valley; a ten-year plan is better than trees; a lifelong plan is better than planting people." It means : When making a one-year plan, there is no more appropriate plan than planting grains; when making a ten-year plan, there is no more appropriate plan than cultivating fruit trees; when making a lifelong plan, there is no more appropriate plan than cultivating talents. Another way to put it is: Plant once and get one harvest, this is grain; cultivate once and get ten harvests, this is fruit tree; cultivate once and get hundreds of harvests, this is talent. This sentence tells us: If we can cultivate talents carefully and use talents skillfully, we will be able to engage in great undertakings with ease. A century-old plan based on education. In the era of knowledge economy, the core of competition is the competition for talents. Cultivating talents is the only way for the Chinese nation to take off. Cultivating talents is a long-term solution, and cultivating talents is not easy. Tree: plant, cultivate. Wood: trees. People: talents.
No words when eating and no words when sleeping. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Country Party"
[Interpretation] Don't talk when eating, don't talk when sleeping. There are many words in "The Analects" that record Confucius' living habits and health regimen. This one is worth learning.
A scholar cannot be without great perseverance, and there is a long way to go. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Taibo"
[Interpretation] A scholar must have lofty ambitions and a strong will, because he has a great responsibility to society and has a long way to go. Hongyi: ambitious and strong-willed. For a person who wants to make a difference, lofty ambition and strong will are indispensable.
When the year is cold, you will know that after the pines and cypresses, you will be able to see the carvings. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Zihan"
[Interpretation] When the weather is cold and the ground is freezing, I realize that the pines and cypresses are the last to lose their leaves. A person's integrity and character can only be seen in a difficult environment. It is in a difficult environment that a person can truly be tested. Diao: Same as "wither", wither, fall apart.
Stones from other mountains can attack jade. —— "The Book of Songs·Xiaoya·Crane"
[Interpretation] Stones on other mountains can be used to polish jade. It originally refers to the talents of one country, but can also be used by another country. Later, it was used as a metaphor to correct one's own mistakes with the help of criticism from others, or to use other people's situations as a reference. In terms of reading and learning, those who study liberal arts should read some books on natural sciences; those who study natural sciences should also read some books on humanities. Other mountains: other mountains. Attack: pondering.
The weather is not as good as the right place, and the right place is not as good as the people. ——"Mencius Gongsun Chou"
[Interpretation] Getting the right time is not as good as getting the right location, and getting the right location is not as good as winning the hearts of the people. Those who win the hearts of the people win the world, and those who lose the hearts of the people lose the world. This is the fact. Weather; changes in solar terms, climate, cloudiness, sunshine, cold and heat. geographical advantage; geographical advantage. Renhe: unity, winning people's hearts.
Heaven moves in good health, and a gentleman strives to constantly strive for self-improvement. ——"Yi Qian"
[Interpretation] The movement of celestial bodies is powerful and powerful. A gentleman should follow it as an example and consciously work hard and never stop. The ancients often had their own experiences when they observed the heaven and earth, mountains and rivers, vegetation, birds and beasts, insects and fish, which is worth learning from. OK: run, run. Jian: strong and powerful.
Give me a peach and repay me with a plum. ——"The Book of Songs·Daya·Dang"
[Interpretation] Someone gives me a peach, and I give him a plum in return. No matter how much benefit the other party gives me, I should repay him with corresponding benefits. There should be courtesy between people. Throw: To throw, here it means to give something away. Bao: return, reward.
Wen, Liang, Gong, frugal and generous. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Xue Er"
[Interpretation] Gentle, kind, serious, frugal and humble. Every time Confucius visited a country, he was bound to hear about the political affairs of that country. He relied on the virtues and attitudes of "gentleness, kindness, respect, thrift, and concessions" to achieve this. This is also the character and attitude we should have in seeking knowledge and being a human being.
Those who do will always succeed, and those who do will always arrive. ——"Yanzi Chunqiu Internal Chapter·Miscellaneous Parts"
[Interpretation] Those who persist in doing things will always succeed, and those who keep moving forward will always reach their destination. Action, action, is actual action. With practical actions, no matter how difficult things are, we can do them; without practical actions, even easy things cannot be done.
I think about it all day long, but it is not as good as what I learned in a moment. ——"Xunzi Encouraging Learning"
[Interpretation] Instead of sitting there and meditating all day long, it is better to spend some time studying to gain benefits. Learning and thinking are complementary to each other. If you only focus on one aspect, it will be in vain. For a moment: for a while.
Rotten wood cannot be carved, nor can a wall of dung be made flat. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Gongye Chang"
[Interpretation] Rotten wood cannot be carved, and walls made of dung cannot be painted. It is a metaphor that there is no need to cultivate a person who cannot be cultivated. There is not much difference in people's intellectual factors, but there is a big difference in people's emotional factors. Confucius had a student named Zaiyu who slept in broad daylight. Confucius said that there is nothing to blame for people like Zaiyu. Because his attitude towards learning was so poor that he was hopeless.嬬 (wū): Tools used for painting walls, here refers to painting and whitewashing.
Learn and then learn. ——"Book of Rites·Xue Ji"
[Interpretation] Keep learning so that you will know your own shortcomings in the future. Einstein once compared himself to a big circle and people with shallow knowledge to a small circle. The outside of the large circle is exposed to more blank space than the small circle. Therefore, people with more knowledge are more aware of their lack of knowledge. Knowing your own shortcomings, the harder you can study, the harder you study, the richer your knowledge will be.
Learning without thinking is a waste, thinking without learning is peril. ——"The Analects of Confucius·For Politics"
[Interpretation] If you just read without thinking, you will be at a loss; if you just daydream without reading, you will be tired and gain nothing. "Learning" and "thinking" are complementary to each other. If you only focus on one aspect and ignore the other, you will not achieve good results.甔 (wǎng): Confused and without gain. Nearly (dài): tired and without gain.
Those who travel a hundred miles are half ninety. ——"Warring States Policy·Qin Policy Five"
[Interpretation] A journey of one hundred miles is only half completed after walking ninety miles. This sentence means that things become more difficult to complete as they reach the final stage. Therefore, no matter what you do, you must not relax until it is finally completed, otherwise you will fall short and all your previous efforts will be wasted.
Be true to your word and bear fruit in your deeds. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Zilu"
[Interpretation] What you say must count, and your actions must be resolute.
If you make a promise, you will be respected by others; if you go back on your word, if you are indecisive, you will be despised by others. Result: determined.
Look up and be worthy of heaven, bow and be worthy of others. ——"Mencius: Give Your Heart to Your Heart"
[Interpretation] When you look up, you feel that you are worthy of God; when you lower your head, you feel that you are worthy of others. You must be upright and have a clear conscience. A gentleman is magnanimous. Yang: Raise your head.怍(zuò): Ashamed.
The best way to nourish your heart is to have few desires. ——"Meng Yu. Do your best"
[Interpretation] Fullness makes you sad, and desire makes you sad. The best way to cultivate your mind and cultivate noble sentiments is to reduce your selfish desires. Desire: lust, greed
If it is violent in one day and cold in ten days, no one will be able to survive. ——"Mencius·Gaozi 1"
[Interpretation] The idiom "One storm brings ten colds" comes from this sentence. The original text is: "Although there are things that are easy to grow in the world, ~, ~, ~. "It means: Even if there is a plant that is the easiest to grow in the world, if it is exposed to the sun for one day and cooled for ten days, none of it will be able to grow. It is a metaphor for working hard for one day and slacking off for ten days. Without perseverance, you will not succeed. Although: even. Bao (Pù): means "exposure", sun exposure. Cold: freezing.
Jade is in the mountains and the grass and trees are moist, and pearls are born in the abyss but they never dry up. ——"Xunzi Encouraging Learning"
[Interpretation] If the jade is hidden in the mountains, even the vegetation on the mountains will appear moist; if the pearls are produced in the abyss, even the shore will not appear dry. If you have knowledge and knowledge hidden in your chest, you will naturally behave well and have extraordinary courage and style. Without inner talent, even if you have a beautiful appearance, you are just an ordinary person.
He who knows himself and his enemy will never be defeated in a hundred battles. ——"Sun Tzu: Planning for Attack"
[Interpretation] A person who understands his own situation and the enemy's situation will not be in danger if he fights a hundred battles. This is a famous saying by Sun Wu, the military strategist of Wu State in the late Spring and Autumn Period. Its scope of application is not limited to the military. As long as it is related to others, whether it is competition or cooperation, there is a problem of knowing yourself and the enemy. Danger (dài): dangerous.
Knowing is knowing, not knowing is not knowing, this is knowing. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Wei Zheng"
[Interpretation] If you know, admit that you already know. If you don't know, you don't know. This is wisdom. Smart people always regard ignorance as known. The last "zhi" (zhì): smart.
A man with lofty ideals and benevolence will not harm his benevolence by seeking life, but will kill himself to fulfill his benevolence. ——"The Analects of Confucius·Wei Linggong"
[Interpretation] People with lofty ideals and benevolence are not willing to covet life and fear death and harm benevolence and righteousness. They are always willing to sacrifice their lives to fulfill righteousness. Since ancient times, loyal ministers and righteous men have valued benevolence and righteousness more important than life. Wen Tianxiang is such a man of lofty ideals and benevolence. The two lines of the poem "No one has ever died in life since ancient times, leaving a loyal heart to illuminate history" show his intention to regard death as home and to sacrifice his life for benevolence.
Sweet melons hold bitter stems, and jujubes grow thorns. ——Anonymous Han Dynasty's "Ancient Poetry· Sweet Melon Holds a Bitter Pediment"
[Interpretation] The melon is sweet, but it has a bitter melon pedicle, and the jujube is beautiful, but it grows on thorns. It is a metaphor that everything in the world cannot be perfect.
The melon field does not accept shoes, and the plum blossoms do not hold the crown. ——"Collection of Yuefu Poems·A Gentleman's Journey"
[Interpretation] When passing the melon field, don't bend down to pick up your shoes; when walking under the plum tree, don't raise your hands to tidy up your hat, lest others suspect you of stealing melons and picking plums. This is used to illustrate that when doing anything, you must pay attention to avoid places where suspicion may easily arise. "Northern History·Yuan Yuxiu Biography": "The ancients were cautious about melon fields in the season. If you are willing to do this, you will not be blamed." This is the truth.
It is better to accumulate tens of millions of money than to possess only a few skills. ——Yan Zhitui, Northern Qi Dynasty, "Yan Family Instructions Encouraging Learning"
[Interpretation] Accumulating tens of thousands of family assets is not as good as learning a small skill. This sentence shows that a person cannot live on his family's property, but should learn some skills, master the means of making a living, and be able to support himself, so that he can be reliable. Today, we talk about learning to live, learn to learn, and learn to be a human being, of which learning to live is the minimum. Bo skills: small skills, often used to describe one's skills modestly.
Remember the good deeds of others and forget the faults of others.
——Jin·Chen Shou's "Three Kingdoms·Shu·Qin Mi Biography"
[Interpretation] You should remember the good aspects of others and forget the faults of others. In real life, many people tend to remember the faults of others and the bad things others have done to them; and they tend to forget the good things about others and the kindness others have done to them.
Quietness cultivates one’s character, frugality cultivates virtue. ——Zhuge Liang, "The Book of Commandments" by Shu in the Three Kingdoms
[Interpretation] Use tranquility to cultivate your body and mind, and use frugality to cultivate your virtues. When studying and doing knowledge, you must calm down. Mr. Wen Yiduo studies knowledge without looking into the garden, which is inseparable from the word quiet. The famous special teacher Wei Shusheng teaches students to practice Qigong in order to enable students to enter tranquility. When you enter silence, you can relax, and when you relax, you can think. Frugality is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation, and all virtues come from frugality. If a person lives a luxurious and extravagant life, can he still be of any benefit to others and society?
It is better to retreat and build a net if you are envious of fish in the abyss. ——Ban Gu of the Han Dynasty, "Han Shu·Dong Zhongshu Biography"
[Interpretation] When standing by the water and seeing fish, I want to get the fish. It is more realistic to go back and weave a net to catch it. The original meaning of this sentence is that governing a country should not be just a fantasy but should be done with practical actions. It can be seen from this that it is useless to just love and envy beautiful things. Only hard work can yield results. Knot: weave.
Never forget the past is the teacher of the future. ——Liu Xiang of the Han Dynasty, "Warring States Policy·Zhao Ceyi"
[Interpretation] Keep in mind the lessons of the predecessors, and you can learn from them when doing things in the future. When looking at the present, it is advisable to learn from the past. Without the past, the present cannot be achieved. Newton said that the reason why I stand taller than my predecessors is because I stand on the shoulders of giants. Teacher: Learn from, learn from.
It is better to be cunning and hypocritical than to be sincere. ——Yan Zhitui, Northern Qi Dynasty, "Yan Family Instructions: Name and Reality"
[Interpretation] No matter how clever the disguise is, it cannot compare to clumsy honesty. Falseness is often associated with ugliness and evil; truth is often associated with goodness and beauty. Examination fraud means that no matter how high the test score is, it will not be as good as the real score. This contains a basic aesthetic principle.
Being close to virtuous ministers and staying away from villains is why the early Han Dynasty prospered; being close to villains and staying away from virtuous ministers is why the Han Dynasty has declined since then.
——Three Kingdoms·Shu·Zhuge Liang's "Shishi Biao"
[Interpretation] Being close to virtuous ministers and alienating virtuous ministers is the reason why the former Han Dynasty prospered; being close to villains and alienating virtuous ministers , this is the reason for the decline of the Later Han Dynasty. The principle of employing people should be to appoint people on their own merits. If people are based on nepotism, villains will swarm in. Close; close. Far: distant. Xinglong: prosperous. Decline: decline.
If a person has no aspirations, why should he worry about his reputation not showing off? ——Liu Yiqing of Jin Dynasty, "New Words of the World·Reinvention"
[Interpretation] A person only has If you are afraid of not being able to set your ambitions, why worry about not getting a good reputation? Determination is the basis for a successful career. Where there is a will, things come true. The ambition is not the age. Order: Beautiful. To highlight: to show off.
Everyone is destined to die. It may be heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather. ——Han Dynasty Sima Qian's "A Letter to Ren Shaoqing"
[Interpretation] Everyone is bound to die, but some people die heavier than Mount Tai, and some people die even less valuable than a feather. . Death is a natural law and irresistible, but how to deal with death is a serious issue that everyone should take seriously. Is it worth threatening someone with death after being slightly wronged or criticized by a teacher or parent? Solid: originally. Or: Some people.
A blessing in disguise is a blessing in disguise. ——Han Liu An's "Huainanzi·Human Lessons"
[Interpretation] An old man living in a frontier fortress lost his horse. How do you know that this is not a good thing? A blessing in disguise: a metaphor for bad things. Conditions can turn into good things. When a person encounters temporary setbacks or is in adversity, he should not become discouraged. Sai (sài): frontier fortress. Weng: Old man.
The mountains never get too high and the sea never gets too deep. ——Three Kingdoms·Wei·Cao Cao's "Dan Ge Xing"
[Interpretation] The mountains don't get tired of being high, the more earth and rocks the better; the sea doesn't get tired of being deep, the more water the better. This metaphor expresses Cao Cao's thirst for talents in order to realize the great cause of unification.
When the water is extremely clear, there are no fish; when people observe it carefully, there are no disciples. ——Han Ban Gu's "Han Shu·Dongfang Shuo Zhuan"
[Interpretation] If the water is too pure, no fish can survive; if a person is too critical and blames others for perfection, he will have no friends. Disciple: follower, friend.
Read the book a hundred times, and its meaning will become apparent.
——Jin·Chen Shou's "Three Kingdoms·Wei Shu·Wang Lang's Biography with Wang Su" Annotated by Pei Songzhi and quoted from "Wei Lue"
[Interpretation] Read the book hundreds of times; The meaning can naturally be understood. See: Same as "appear", appear, reveal.
Don’t do evil because it’s small, and don’t do good because it’s small. ——Jin·Chen Shou's "Three Kingdoms·Book of Shu·Biography of the First Lord"
[Interpretation] Don't think that small bad things will not matter if you do them; and don't think that small good things will not matter if you do them. use. This is what Liu Bei warned his son Liu Chan before he died. There is a problem in human cultivation from quantitative change to qualitative change. When quantity accumulation reaches a certain level, qualitative change will occur. If you do too much small evil, it will become a great evil; if you do too much small good, it will become a great good. Don’t: don’t.
Things prosper and then decline, and extreme happiness leads to sadness. ——Han Liu An's "Huainanzi Dao Yingxun".
[Interpretation] When things develop to the extreme, they turn to decay, and when the extreme of joy turns to sorrow. People feel refreshed when happy events happen, but they should not get carried away. Extreme happiness can lead to sadness, and good things can turn into bad things.
The sparrow knows the ambition of the swan! ——Han Dynasty Sima Qian's "Historical Records·Chen She Family"
[Interpretation] How can the little sparrow know the ambition of the swan? It is a metaphor that people without ambition will not understand the ambition of those with lofty ideals. An: How can that be?