Careful observation

Original text When the water is clear, there will be no fish; when people observe it carefully, there will be no disciples. Jinyu hides her flaws, but Chuanze accepts her dirt.

The government is scrupulous and the people are deficient. Lao Tzu’s words can be imitated.

Harsh government and no kindness, trouble and hurt kindness, although he made contemptuous remarks, Xue Xuan was the best.

Weighing firewood and boiling it, counting meters to cook, breaking muscles and breaking bones. If you use it like this, your relatives will rebel.

The gentlemen of ancient times sought to have no faults among the faults, so there was no resentment in the world; the gentlemen of today seek to have faults among the no faults, leaving the people at a loss. Oh, I can’t bear it!

Translation: If the water is too clear, there will be no fish; if a person is too serious, there will be no friends. Beautiful jade may contain flaws, and rivers may contain dirt.

If the government is too harsh, the people will be cunning. This famous saying of Lao Tzu can be used as a rule for governing the country.

Harsh politics will cause disharmony between the rulers and the ruled. If they are too harsh and trivial, they will lose the support of the people. Although Xue Xuan used vulgar language to persuade the emperor, he had the auspiciousness of a minister. Weighing the firewood to light the fire, counting the grains of rice to cook, and using such a fussy attitude to receive people and things will inevitably lead to betrayal and alienation from everyone in the congregation.

Gentlemen in ancient times strived to find nothing wrong in the faults of others. Therefore, people in the world had no resentment. But today's so-called gentlemen are just the opposite. They like to find shortcomings in people who have no mistakes, find faults, and make the world at a loss. Alas! No gold is pure, and no man is perfect. How can you not resist being critical? You are not a sage when criticizing people, so who can be faultless? Don’t always seek perfection and blame when getting along with others. Always encourage yourself by saying "it's rare to be confused" and be tolerant of others, and you will have many friends. If you don't hold a grain of sand in your eyes, are overly picky, argue the right and wrong of every trivial matter, and are intolerant of others, others will stay away from you. You can only close the door and "call yourself a loner" and become a dissident who is feared to be shunned by others.

Retreat bravely

Original text: Retreating after achieving success is the way of heaven; knowing how to proceed but not retreating is the overestimation of Qian. Test the weather of cold and heat in the fire, realize the regret of the sheep in the great strength.

Heaven and man have an opportunity to advance and retreat. If we do not retreat, disaster will come. The ancestral tent is in the east capital. It's a joy to have two sparse. It's a shame if the rabbit dies and the dog cooks it. Oh, I can’t bear it!

After the translation becomes famous, it is in line with the laws of nature to retreat bravely. Only knowing how to move forward without knowing how to retreat will lead to the phenomenon of prosperity and decline mentioned in the "Book of Changes Qian Gua". The changes in nature are that after the cold comes, the heat comes, and after the heat comes the cold, the alternation continues. The same is true for people. If you reach your peak, it indicates that you are about to decline. If you don't realize this, you will be in a dilemma like a goat's horn stuck in a fence.

The changes in nature and changes in human affairs are the same, and the same is true for the laws of advancement, retreat, prosperity and decline. If you don't retire when you should, disaster and disaster will come at the same time. When Shuguang and Shuai, a native of the Western Han Dynasty, became successful and famous, they resolutely submitted their resignation to the emperor and asked to go home and spend their remaining years in peace. The ministers bid him farewell and it became a moment of beauty. Han Xin assisted Han Emperor Gaozu to pacify the world and became one of the Three Heroes. But he didn't know how to retire, and ended up in a desperate situation, which is deplorable. Alas! How can people not help feeling nostalgic when they achieve success and fame? Comments When the moon is full, it will lose, and when the water is full, it will overflow. This is often the case with people with power. Really smart people often know how to retreat at the right time. In the Spring and Autumn Period, Fan Li saw Gou Jian's nature of "only being able to deal with adversities, but not to deal with things alone". After helping him defeat the Wu State, he retired from the army, went into business and property, and became rich and free. . In fact, not only the political circles, but also outstanding people in other fields should also examine the situation and understand the principle of stopping when enough is enough and retreating in order to advance.

At any time

The original text is that when you can do something, then follow it; if you can't do it, when you can't do it, then it's bad. Therefore, the words and deeds are dangerous and the world is dirty and prosperous.

Lao Dan passed through Xirong and spoke to the barbarians, and the people of Xia Yu left the country naked and took off their clothes. Mozi said that musical instruments are useless and not good. When he went to see King Jing, he dressed in brocade and played the sheng.

To stick to the current situation without changing it is to go against the times. Mao Zhangfu was so barbaric that his vertebrae were in a bun, he walked on barefooted barbarians in a dazzling way, he diagnosed the ice and snow, and he carried the scorching sun. He was so stupid that he was given a posthumous title.

Oh, I can’t bear it!

Translation If you do what you can do when you can do it, you will succeed; if you do what you can’t do when you can’t do it, you will fail and even be dangerous. . Therefore, whether an individual's words and deeds are noble or humble depends on whether the world is clear.

Lao Dan went to the Xirong Kingdom to learn the language there, and Xia Yu took off his clothes when he went to the Naked Kingdom. Mozi didn't like music and thought musical instruments were of little use, but when he went to Jingchu, he wore brocade clothes and played the sheng.

Stubborn and unflexible, these are people who are out of style. If you go to Minyue to sell cotton hats, go to barefoot areas to sell shoes, wear sweatshirts when the weather is cold, or wear cotton clothes when the sun is scorching, you will be considered stupid. Alas! How can people not hold back their stubbornness? Comments on the old saying goes: "Stretching, advancing, retreating, changing, this is the way of the sage." Only by adapting to the current situation and being good at making the best use of the situation can a person achieve great things. Wu Zetian, the first female emperor in Chinese history, was a person who was extremely capable of controlling the current situation. She initially served as a talented person for Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty. When Emperor Taizong was critically ill, she was still young and he wanted to bury her with him. At this time, Wu Zetian not only established an affair with the then prince, later Emperor Gaozong, but also chose a popular way at the time to avoid sin and cultivate one's character - becoming a nun. This not only showed loyalty to the emperor, but also saved his own life. We don’t need to comment on whether Wu Zetian’s move complies with traditional ethical principles, but it was this move that allowed her to seize the steering wheel of success at the most critical moment.

Tongyin

The original text means Tongguan is a bureaucrat, respected by the "Spring and Autumn Annals"; Tongyin Xiegong, ordered by the "Yu Shu". Born in different parts of the world, they were in the same official position, like brothers and sisters, taking part in discussions and decisions.

The country forgets its family, the public servant forgets its selfishness, there is no greed and competition in the heart, and there is no suspicion between the two. There is right and wrong in saying things, right and wrong in things, little dissatisfaction, and contradictions.

Those who judge people in the court think they are rebellious; those who judge people in Taichung think they are obedient. Changli's motto is enough to warn. Oh, I can’t bear it!

The translation is that people who serve as officials together are called colleagues, which is defined in the Spring and Autumn Annals; colleagues should cooperate with each other, respect each other, and be close, which is what the "Spring and Autumn Annals" defines. "Yu Shu" requires. Although the places of birth are far apart, when they are officials together, they should be like brothers and discuss and decide with each other on matters.

If you forget your family for the sake of the country, and forget your selfishness for the sake of public service, if you have no greed or aggression in your heart, you will not take advantage of or frame each other. There are good and bad suggestions, and right and wrong things. If colleagues understand each other, there will be no conflicts and tit-for-tat confrontations.

If you comment on others in public in the government, people will think you have ulterior motives; if you comment on others in casual conversations, others will think you have admiration. Han Yu's motto is enough to arouse the warning of those who speak carelessly regardless of the occasion. Alas! How can people not be tolerant and patient towards their colleagues? Comments Since ancient times, "colleagues" and colleague relationships have been one of the most sensitive interpersonal relationships. Once conflicts arise between colleagues, it is difficult to heal. Therefore, we must learn to deal with this relationship.

So what should we do if we want to have harmonious interpersonal relationships at work? First, focus on the overall situation, and do more to make up for the troubles and less to undermine them; second, keep an appropriate distance when interacting with colleagues and superiors. 3. Treat differences and require broad consensus while reserving minor differences. When conflicts occur, be tolerant and make concessions and learn to apologize; fourth, when dealing with promotion and utilitarianism, keep a calm mind and don't be jealous.

For work

The original text is not good at cutting, and the bloody fingers are ashamed. The skillful craftsman looked on, shrinking his sleeves.

At the age of seventy, he is already old and good at wheel-pulling, although he has not passed it on.

Hundreds of workers live in a house to accomplish their work, just like a gentleman who learns his way. If you are not good at learning, you will lose your talent; if you are not good at work, you will lose your skills.

The state has the rituals of Shang Fang, and there is the winter official rank examination. The body is pampered but the family is warm, and the skills are high but the heart is small. Oh, I can't bear it!

The person who is not good at using an ax hurts his fingers and makes his face sweaty, while the real craftsman stands by and does nothing. In this way, their superb skills are wasted.

When he was seventy years old, he was still very good at cutting and making wheels. This skill could not be mastered by others through teaching, and even his son could not understand his skills.

Craftsmen from all walks of life can only learn their skills in the workshop, just like a gentleman can only understand the truth through learning. If you are not good at studying, you will lack talent, and if you are not a skilled craftsman, you will lack skills. The country has an official office that is responsible for manufacturing and supplying utensils for the emperor, and there is an agency where the winter official is in charge of engineering production. Some craftsmen are favored by the emperor and occupy high positions, with warm families and abundant supplies. This is because they are highly skilled and cautious. Alas! As a craftsman, he is more dedicated than the average person, so how can he not hold back his half-heartedness? The commentator said that there are five magic weapons in a person's life: body, friends, good wife, books, and skills. No matter what the other four treasures are, "one skill" alone is quite impressive. If we look at those successful people, we will find that many of them started by mastering a skill. Xiao Yubin, a cook, specializes in deboning whole fish and becomes a famous chef at home and abroad; American Warren Buffett specializes in stocks and becomes a stock investment expert and billionaire; Bill Gates specializes in computers software, and became the richest man in the world. From this point of view, studying anything can give you skills and achievements in such a complicated and noisy modern society.

For business

Original text Business person, dealer, and discuss every day. Merchants are not sure whether they have something to buy or not, and when they discuss it, they consider the short and long term.

Use it urgently, the price may be low, and it is not for those who read it but do not sell it. Gou Zi calls him a good businessman, one who does not compete with others for the price of his business; "National Policy" calls him a good businessman, why should he follow the example of the people of Lu and drink their sheep in the morning?

The good traders in ancient times took what others had left, eased their worries, waited for the right time, and made tenfold profits. The Tao and Zhu family accumulated money, sold fat and sold preserved food, and they were all very capable of planning and planning, and irregularities were beneficial to the day and night. Oh, I can’t bear it!

Translation: Merchant is a dealer, also called a discussion. If there are traders, they will exchange what they have, and if there is discussion, there will be disputes over price.

The demand for items may be slow or urgent, and the prices may be low or high. Without bargaining, there would be no market. Gouzi believes that smart businessmen do not argue with customers about prices and are better at seizing opportunities. "Warring States Policy" believes that good businessmen do not need to mix defective goods with good goods, just like the people of Lu giving water to their sheep in the morning.

People who were good at doing business in ancient times bought things that were not urgently needed by the public, sold things that people needed, and waited for the opportunity to make greater profits. The Tao Zhu family accumulated a thousand taels of gold, and the hawkers who sold oil and preserved meat could become wealthy businessmen. They were able to consider the long term instead of pursuing small gains overnight. Alas! In business, you have to wait for the opportunity. Faced with small profits, how can people not resist the pursuit? This comment means that the products sold must be of high quality in order to be popular in the market. The products will not be overstocked and the funds will not be idle. In business activities, even if prices continue to rise, do not hesitate to sell and do not covet high profits. Keeping goods is "expensive" and may result in losses due to changes in market prices.

Therefore, when the price of goods in the market becomes expensive, you should sell them like dung, without hesitation, and do not hoard them to make huge profits; when the prices of goods in the market are low, you should sell them in large quantities like pearls and jade at any cost. acquisition. In this way, funds turn around quickly and profits are huge. From this point of view, businessmen must "assess the situation" and grasp the "degree" of making profits, so that they can remain invincible.

Making friends

Original text: Friendship in ancient times is like gold that has been refined a hundred times and does not change its color; today's friendship is like a torrent that fills up and dries up, and does not last forever.

Guan Bao’s knowledge will never change if he is poor; Fan Zhangzhiyi will never give up in life or death.

If it is light and sweet, it will be bad, which is what the sages have warned against; when power is bribed and discussed, it is easy to burn and cool. The friendship between gentlemen is as cautious as the beginning; the effect of villains is called market.

Yunzi welcomed Gu Chen's wife and divided the house. He came to see Xihua's brother Hu Xinxin. I swear to God that I will not betray you, and I will look back as if I didn't know each other. Oh, I can’t bear it!

Translation: The friendship of the ancients is like real gold, and it will not change its color even after being tempered for thousands of times; the friendship of modern people is like the floods in July and August, which are full in the morning and full in the evening. It might just dry up.

The friendship between Guan Zhong and Bao Shuya remains the same, no matter they are poor or rich, and the friendship between Shi Shi and Zhang Shao remains unchanged regardless of life or death.

The friendship between gentlemen is as light as water but can last forever; the friendship between villains is sweet but can be easily destroyed. This is what the sages warned us: we communicate with each other based on power, and communicate with each other based on interests; we communicate with each other based on what we ask for; it is easy to get hot and easy to cool down. Therefore, making friends with moral people should be consistent, and making friends with market villains is like doing business in the market.

Qiu Chengzi took Gu Chen’s wife and children in and gave them his own house to live in. However, when he arrived, he showed no concern for his old acquaintance Renfang’s sons. When making friends, when a friend is in power, he swears to heaven that he will never betray him. Once he loses power, he becomes like a stranger. Alas! The friendship between gentlemen is as light as water. How can people not resist the desire to make friends? Comments As the saying goes, "A fence has three stakes, and a hero has three gangs." A person cannot live without friends and cannot live without their support. However, there is a choice as to what kind of friends you make. The ancients said: "Three friends benefit, and three friends harm you. Friends who are straight and understanding, friends who are well-informed, are beneficial.

Friends are secluded, friends are soft, friends are sycophantic, which is a loss." That is to say, with integrity Making friends with trustworthy and knowledgeable people will benefit a lot; making friends with people who are flattering, evil-minded, and flashy will bring harm. This sentence still has strong reference significance today.

Youth

The youth of the original author, for example, is like spring, with bright orioles and beautiful flowers, but is only ninety years old, with hot summer and miserable autumn, just like a cycle. How long is the lifespan, and one is despising one's own life; one is greedy for wine and lust, and plays games; one is bullying the mature, and the Party is evil; one throws away poems and books, and refuses to listen to what is taught. The temples will turn gray easily, the beauty will age prematurely, old age is approaching and the time will never come again. If you don’t learn and have no skills, how can you regret it! Oh, I can’t bear it!

When the translator was young, the sun was as bright as spring, but time flies, good times don’t last long, and when the orioles are shining brightly, March passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, it was the hot summer, followed by the autumn when everything withered, and then the icy winter, and so on. How long can a person's life span be? How can we not cherish our own life? We are greedy for wine, obsessed with beauty, gambling and riding horses. Make friends with bad people, make enemies with good people, insult the elderly; do not read the books of sages, and do not listen to the teachings of others. Once black hair turns white, beauty ages with time, the good times are gone and there is no turning back, and you are uneducated, it will be too late to regret. Alas! Youth is the most beautiful time in life, how can we not hold back our indulgence? Comments: Youth is the most precious time. The ancients revealed many things in their literary works. Cao Cao lamented the "geometry of life" in his poem "Dan Ge Xing", and Du Fu lamented in his poem "Mopi Xing": "How long will it take for a young man to become old?" Li Bai also said "Chao Jin" in his poem "Jinjinjiu". Like blue hair, snow turns into snow at dusk." It is true that time flies by like a fleeting horse. Even if a person is a teenager today, there will be a time when he will be "old". How to make his life better after youth depends on how we make use of the good time in our youth. .

General

Original text: Generals take charge of matters that are outside the scope of the law. Even if they are dictatorial and underestimate the enemy, they dare not violate them. Wei Qing did not kill his generals and returned to the emperor, while Yafu did not engage in light battles but built deep ditches and high bases. The army does not think it is weak, and public opinion also praises it as beautiful.

Extension of life and Chen Tang, raising troops to correct the system, cutting off the Zhi branch with one hand, and gaining great power, but the reward has not yet been fulfilled, and he will almost die in prison.

Since ancient times, it is more important to be a general than to be cautious; when two armies are facing each other, be careful not to move lightly. Therefore, Sima Yi endured the legacy of his wife's bow, but still feared Zhuge's death; Meng Ming regarded it as enduring the defeat of Xi Ling, and ultimately ended up with the three uses of Duke Mu. Oh, I can't bear it!

Translation: Affairs outside the imperial court are presided over by the general. Even if the general is autocratic and underestimates the enemy, others cannot disobey him: Wei Qing does not kill his delinquent adjutant but leaves it to the emperor to deal with. Yafu did not go into battle easily, but held on with deep ditches and high fortresses. The army did not think this was weakness, and public opinion also praised them!

Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang of the Western Han Dynasty pretended to be the emperor. Chen Tang was ordered to send troops to attack the Xiongnu, killed the Chanyu, and shocked the Western Regions. However, before the rewards for them were fulfilled, Chen Tang was imprisoned and almost died in prison. Since ancient times, it is important for a general to be cautious; when two armies are facing each other, it is most taboo to act rashly.

Therefore, Sima Yi endured Zhuge Liang's provocation by saying that he was a woman, and the dead Zhuge even predicted the living Sima Yi's theory. Meng Mingshi was able to endure the humiliation and bear the heavy burden, and finally defeated the Jin State and realized Qin Mu Gong's hegemony of annexing Xirong. Alas! How can a general not endure challenges and setbacks? Commenting on Lincoln’s speech in the Senate after he became president, a senator stood up and said: "Mr. Lincoln, before you start your speech, I hope you remember that you are a "The son of a shoemaker." Lincoln said: "I am very grateful that you reminded me of my father. He has passed away. I will always remember your advice. I will always be the son of a shoemaker. I know that I will never be able to be like that as a president. "My father is such a good shoemaker." He turned to the senator and said, "As far as I know, my father used to make shoes for your family. If your shoes don't fit, I can help you correct them." "Although I am not a great shoemaker, I learned the art of making shoes from my father since I was a child."

Lincoln used this calm attitude to impress his opponents. Just imagine, if a person has such magnanimity and mind, what can't be accomplished?