每见待子弟,严厉者易至成德,姑息者多有败行,则父兄之教育所系也;又见有子弟,聪颖者忽入下流,庸愚者转为上达,则父兄之培植所关也。人品之不高,总为一利字看不破;学业之不进,总为一懒字丢不开。德足以感人,而以有德当大权,其感尤速;财足以累己,而以有财处乱世,其累尤深。
每每能看到这样的情形:对子孙要求严格的,可使他们养成良好的品行,而对子孙姑息纵容的,往往使他们道德败坏,这都和接受父兄什么样的教育是密不可分的。还能看到另一种情形:一些原本十分聪慧的子孙突然变得低俗起来,而原本十分平庸的子孙却明显变得人品高贵起来,这同样都和接受父兄什么样的熏陶是密不可分的。
人品低下,都是因为看不破一个利字;学业没有进步,都是由于丢不开一个懒字。
良好的品德足可感化人,如果感化者既有良好的品德又有显赫的声誉和地位,那么他感化人的作用就会尤其明显。
财富足可拖累人的心力,如果拥有很多财富且又恰逢多事之秋,那么财富对人的拖累就愈加厉害。
It has been very often that children who are taught with strictness become well cultivated and those who are treated over-tolerantly fall into evil ways. It’s all up to the education they have received from the adults of their families.
It has also been very often that some of the smart children unexpectedly become degenerated and some of the mediocre ones become heads and shoulders above others. Again, it’s all up to the influence they have had from the adults of their families.
Sinking in low personality, it’s always because that one fails to see through the word of profit. Lagging behind in study, it’s normally because that one fails to cast away the word of laziness.
It’s easy to influence people with righteousness, and more so if done by a person who is marked with fame and rank.
It’s burdensome to have too much wealth, and more so when in troubled times.