懲忿 遷善

 

8. 古之人曰：「一夫不耕，或受之飢；一女不織，或受之寒。」生之有時，而用之無度，則物力必屈。古之治天下，至纖至悉也，故其蓄積足恃。（卷十四　漢書二）

8. The ancients said: “If a farmer refuses to work, some people will starve. If a woman refuses to weave, some people will suffer in the cold.” When the growth of all things is limited by seasons but we consume them as if they will be available without limitation, the resources will sooner or later be depleted. The ancients governed and planned meticulously and they would have had the foresight to ensure the treasury had enough reserves to sustain the nation. (Scroll 14: Han Shu, Vol. 2) 

 

9. 故脩身治國也，要莫大於節欲。傳曰：「欲不可縱。」歷觀有家有國，其得之也，莫不階於儉約；其失之也，莫不由於奢侈。儉者節欲，奢者放情。放情者危，節欲者安。（卷四十七　政要論）

9. Thus, to cultivate oneself in order to rule a country, nothing can be more significant than to restrain one’s desires. The book of Li Ji said: “Don’t give in to desires.”We have seen rulers and senior ministers of the past and present had achieved success through hard work and lived frugally, and that those who failed did so were extravagant and wasteful. Frugal people will restrain their desires but spendthrifts will let their desires run free. Self-gratification will endanger one’s life while moderation will keep one safe. (Scroll 47: Zheng Yao Lun)

 

懲忿

Refrain from anger

 

10. 禁令不明，而嚴刑以靜亂；廟筭不精，而窮兵以侵鄰。猶釤禾以計蝗蟲，伐木以殺蛣蛣作蠹蝎，減食減食作食毒以中蚤蝨，撤舍以逐雀鼠也。（卷五十　抱朴子）

10. Before a ban has been stated clearly by the government, severe punishments were enforced to suppress disorderliness. Before a well-planned military strategy has been devised, the armed forces were deployed in full force to invade a neighboring country. Is this not like cutting down the crops in order to destroy the locusts; or chopping down trees to get rid of infestations of worms or bugs; or swallowing poison in order to kill lice and fleas; or tearing down a house in order to chase away sparrows and rats? Scroll 50: Bao Pu Zi

 

遷善

Emulate good deeds

 

12. 子曰：「我三人行，必得我師焉。擇其善者而從之，其不善者而改之。」（卷九　論語）

12. Confucius said: “When I walk along with others, they will serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them; but as for their bad qualities I will correct them in myself.”Scroll 9: Lun Yu

近两天看到YOUTUBE上一个教材，是中央党校的年轻教授刘余莉老师讲《群书治要》，讲的很细，很好。我一直不敢在中英文对照之外乱加自己的评说，就是因为自己不太专业，只是觉得好，还没有到能说清为什么好的水平。所以还是听专家讲吧！嘿嘿！