《大学》名句

【大学之道】

大学之道，在明明德，在亲 ^① 民，在止于至善。

【注释】

①亲：通“新”。这里是使动用法，意为革新。

【参考译文】

大学的宗旨，在于彰明内心美好的德行，在于使他人能够自新进步，在于以最合理的原则待人处事，使一切都达成最圆满的状态。

What the Great Learning teaches，is to illustrate illustrious virtue，to renovate the people，and to abide in the highest good．

【止，定，静，安，虑，得】

知止而后有定，定而后能静，静而后能安，安而后能虑，虑而后能得。

【参考译文】

知道了为学的归宿，心志才有定向；心志有了定向，心意才能不妄动；心意不妄动，不论在什么情况下都能安处；能够随遇而安，才能处事精思详辨；处事精思详辨，才能得至善的道理。

Only after knowing what to abide in can one be calm．Only after having been calm can one be tranquil．Only after having achieved tranquility can one have peaceful repose．Only after having peaceful repose can one begin to deliberate．Only after deliberation can the end be attained．

【物有本末】

物有本末，事有终始。知所先后，则近道矣。

【参考译文】

万物都有其根本和末节，万事都有其结束和开始。了解事物的先后顺序，那就接近道了。

Things have their roots and their branches．Affairs have their ends and their beginnings．Knowing sequencing will lead one near the Way．

【修，齐，治，平】

古之欲明明德于天下者，先治其国；欲治其国者，先齐其家；欲齐其家者，先修其身；欲修其身者，先正其心；欲正其心者，先诚其意；欲诚其意者，先致其知；致知在格物。

【参考译文】

古代那些想向天下彰显美好德性的人，会先治理好自己的国家；想要治理好自己的国家的人，会先整治好自己的家族；想要整治好自己的家族的人，会先提高自身的修养；想要提高自身修养的人，要先端正自己的心（使它不受物欲、妄念、私情等的干扰）；想要端正自己的心的人，会先使自己的意念真诚；想要使自己意念真诚的人，会先获取相应的知识；获得知识的方法在于推究事物的原理。

The ancients，who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom，first brought order to their states．Wishing to bring their states，they first regulated their families．Wishing to regulate their families，they first cultivated themselves．Wishing to cultivate themselves，they first rectified their minds．Wishing to rectify their minds，they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts．Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts，they first extended to the utmost their knowledge．Such extension of knowledge lay in the investigation of things．

【修身为本】

自天子以至于庶人，壹是皆以修身为本。其本乱而末治者否矣。其所厚者薄而其所薄者厚，未之有也。

【参考译文】

上至天子，下到百姓，都要把提高自身修养作为根本。根本错乱却还能把末端治理好，是不可能的。不重视最切近自身的道德修养，反而去高谈阔论治国平天下，从来没有这样的道理。

From the emperor down to the mass of the people，all must consider the cultivation of the personal life as the root．It cannot be，when the root is neglected，that what should spring from it will be well ordered．It never has been the case that what was of great importance has been slightly cared for，and，at the same time，that what was of slight importance has been greatly cared for．

【慎独】

所谓诚其意者，毋自欺也，如恶 ^① 恶臭，如好好色，此之谓自谦 ^② 。故君子必慎其独也。

【注释】

①恶（wù）：厌恶。

②谦：通“慊（qiè）”，快足、满足之意。

【参考译文】

所谓使自己的意念真诚无伪，就是说不要自我欺骗，就好比厌恶难闻的气味，喜欢美丽的容色，这就是自得之乐。所以君子在自己独处而所作所为没有别人知道的时候，也一定要谨慎。

What is meant by “making the thoughts sincere．”is the allowing no self-deception，as when we hate a bad smell，and as when we love what is beautiful．This is called self-enjoyment．Therefore，the noble person must be watchful over himself when he is alone．

【诚意】

富润屋，德润身，心广体胖 ^① ，故君子必诚其意。

【注释】

①胖（pán）：安和舒泰。

【参考译文】

财富可以用来装饰房屋，德行可以美化身行，心胸宽广身体才能安舒，所以君子一定要使自己的意念真诚。

Wealth makes a house shining and virtue makes a person shining．The mind is expanded，and the body is at ease．Therefore，the noble person must make his thoughts sincere．

【没世不忘】

君子贤其贤而亲其亲，小人乐其乐而利其利，此以没世不忘也。

【参考译文】

道德高尚的人称颂先王任用贤人而和睦亲友的德行，百姓高兴先王带来的快乐而享受他们留下的福利，这就是先王虽然死了也不会被后人遗忘的原因。

The noble person deem worthy what they deemed worthy，and love what they loved．The common people delight in what delighted them，and are benefited by their beneficial arrangements．That was why the former kings are not forgotten even after they passed away．

【明德】

《康诰》曰：“克明德。”《大甲》 ^① 曰：“顾 ^② 天之明命。”《帝典》 ^③ 曰：“克明峻德。”皆自明也。

【注释】

①《大甲》：指《尚书　商书》中的《太甲》。

② （shì）：通“是”。代词，这。

③《帝典》：指《尚书　尧典》。“峻”，《尧典》作“俊”。

【参考译文】

《康诰》中说：“能够彰明美好的德性。”《太甲》中说：“顾念这上天赋予的美好的德性。”《帝典》中说：“能够彰明美好的大德。”这些说的都是要彰明自身的德性。

In the Announcement to Kang，it is said：“He was able to make his virtue illustrious．”In the Tai-chia，it is said：“He contemplated the illustrious decrees of Heaven．”In the Canon of the emperor（Yao），it is said：“He was able to make illustrious his lofty virtue．”These passages all show how those sovereigns made themselves illustrious．

【新】

汤之盘铭曰：“苟日新，日日新，又日新。”

【参考译文】

商汤的脸盆上的铭文说：“如果今天能够荡涤清除心灵上旧有的污染而自新，那就要天天都追求自新，更要持续不断地求自新。”

On the washbasin of the king Tang，the following words were engraved：“If you can renovate yourself today do it from day to day．Yea，let there be daily renovation．”

【仁，敬，孝，慈，信】

为人君，止于仁；为人臣，止于敬；为人子，止于孝；为人父，止于慈；与国人交，止于信。

【参考译文】

作为君主，要以“仁”为他最终的依归；作为臣子，要以“敬”为他最终的依归；作为子女，要以“孝”为他最终的依归；作为父母，要以“慈”为他最终的依归；与国中的人交往，要以“信”为他最终的依归。

As a sovereign，he rested in humanity．As a minister，he rested in reverence．As a son，he rested in filial piety．As a father，he rested in kindness．And in dealing with the people of the country，he rested in faithfulness．

【心不在焉】

心不在焉，视而不见，听而不闻，食而不知其味。

【参考译文】

心如果不在所做的事情上，就会看了如同没有看到，听了如同没有听见，吃东西却尝不出它的味道。

When the mind is not present，we look but do not see，listen but do not hear，eat but do not know the taste of what we eat．

【人莫知子恶苗硕】

谚有之曰：“人莫知其子之恶，莫知其苗之硕。”

【参考译文】

有句俗话这样说：“人（有了偏私之心，所以）不能知道他的孩子的短处，不认为自家田里禾苗壮硕。”

Hence it is said，in the common adage，“A man does not know the wickedness of his son；he does not know the richness of his growing corn．”

【一人，一家，一国】

一家仁，一国兴仁；一家让，一国兴让；一人贪戾，一国作乱。其机如此。

【参考译文】

君主的家族提倡仁德，整个国家都会兴起仁德之风；君主的家族提倡礼让，整个国家都会兴起礼让之风；君主自身贪婪暴戾，整个国家都会发生动乱。事情发动的因由就是这样。

If the lord practices humanity in his own family，all people in his state will practice humanity．If the lord is courteous，all people in his state will become courteous，If the lord is greedy and cruel，the whole country will be plunged into disorder．Such is the subtle，incipient activating force of things．

【有诸己而后求诸人】

君子有诸己而后求诸人，无诸己而后非诸人。所藏乎身不恕，而能喻诸人者，未之有也。

【参考译文】

君子只有自己具备了某种美德，然后才会要求别人也具备，自己没有某种缺点，然后才会要求别人不要有这种缺点。不能以自己的品行推己及人，却能去教育别人的，从来没有。

The noble person must himself be possessed of the good qualities，and then he may require them in the people．He must not have the bad qualities in himself，and then he may require that they shall not be in the people．Never has there been a man，who，not having reference to his own character and wishes in dealing with others was able effectually to instruct them．

【絜矩之道】

所谓平天下在治其国者，上老老而民兴孝，上长长而民兴弟，上恤孤而民不倍 ^① 。是以君子有 ^② 絜矩之道也。

【注释】

①倍：通“背”，背弃，背离。

②絜（xié）：度量。

【参考译文】

所谓使天下太平在于治理好自己的国家，就是说在上位的人尊敬老人，百姓就跟着兴起孝道；在上位的人尊重长辈，百姓就跟着兴起悌道；在上位的人体恤无父的孩子，百姓就不会互相背弃。所以说君子能够起到率先垂范的作用。

What is meant by “making the whole kingdom peaceful and happy depends on the government of his state”is this：When the sovereign behaves to his aged，the people will be aroused toward filial piety；when the sovereign behaves to his elders，the people will be aroused toward brotherly respect；when the sovereign treats compassionately the young and helpless，then the common people will not follow the opposite course．Thus the ruler has a principle with which，as with a measuring square，he may regulate his conduct．

【民之父母】

民之所好好之，民之所恶恶之，此之谓民之父母。

【参考译文】

百姓喜好的事物，（君长也要）喜欢它，百姓厌恶的事物，（君长）也要厌恶它，这就是所说的百姓的父母（的表现）。

When a sovereign loves what the people love，and hates what the people hate，then he is so-called the parent of the people．

【道与国】

道得众则得国，失众则失国。

【参考译文】

所秉持的治国之道能够获得民众的拥戴就能得到这个国家，失去民众的拥戴就会失去这个国家。

By having the support of the people，the sovereign have their countries，and by losing the support of the people，the sovereign lose their countries．

【德与财】

德者本也，财者末也。

【参考译文】

德行是根本，财富是细枝末节。

Virtue is the root，while wealth is the branch．

【忠信与骄泰】

君子有大道，必忠信以得之，骄泰以失之。

【参考译文】

君子修己治人的根本原则，通过忠实有信而获得，由于骄奢淫逸而丧失。

The noble person has a great course to pursue．He must attain it through loyalty and faithfulness and will surely lose it through pride and indulgence．

【生财有大道】

生财有大道，生之者众，食之者寡，为之者疾，用之者舒，则财恒足矣。

【参考译文】

获得财富有重要的原则，生产财富的人多，尸位素餐的人少，创造财富的时候迅速，使用财富的时候缓慢，那么财富就会经常保持充足了。

There is a great principle for the production of wealth．If there are many producers and few consumers，and if people who produce wealth do so quickly and those who spend it do so slowly，then wealth will always be sufficient．

【身与财】

仁者以财发身，不仁者以身发财。

【参考译文】

仁者不惜牺牲财货以成就自身的德行，没有仁德的人不惜败坏自身的德行以求获得财富。

A man of humanity develops his personality by means of his wealth，while the inhumane person develops wealth at the sacrifice of his personality．