栖守道德者,寂寞一时;依阿 ① 权势者,凄凉万古。达人观物外之物 ② ,思身后之身 ③ ;宁受一时之寂寞,毋取万古之凄凉。
① 依阿:依附讨好。
② 物外之物:物质之外的东西。此处指精神财富或精神价值。
③ 身后之身:人死后留在世上的名声。
谨守道德的人,也许会寂寞一时;而依附权贵的人,则必然会凄凉一辈子。豁达的人看重的是精神层面的东西以及自己身后的名声。所以,他们宁肯忍受寂寞于一时,也不愿意凄凉孤寂一辈子。
Those who stick to their moral integrity might be lonesome for a time.Whereas, those who cling to the powerful and influential will surely become desolate for good and all. To a well-cultivated person, the worthiest are the gains beyond material and the name after him. It is because of this that he had rather endure momentary loneliness than receive endless desolation.