6月3日

《圍爐夜話》選
清 王永彬 ( 1792~1869 )

十分不耐煩，乃為人大病；
一味學吃虧，是處事良方。

但責己，不責人，此遠怨之道也；
但信己，不信人，此取敗之由也。

事當難處之時，只退讓一步，便容易處矣；
功到將成之候，若放鬆一著，便不能成矣。

有才必韜藏，如渾金璞玉，暗然而日章也；
為學無間斷，如流水行雲，日進而不已也。

性情浮躁，耐不得一點麻煩，是做人的大忌；
寬容忍讓，甘願自家吃虧，是處世最好辦法。

一言足以召大禍，故古人守口如瓶，惟恐其覆墜也；
一行足以玷終身，故古人飭躬若璧，惟恐有瑕疵也。

──選自《圍爐夜話》

June 3

Evening Talk Around the Fire Stove
Wang Yongbin (1792 - 1869, Qing Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

Ten tenth of impatience, a serious illness for men;
One tenth of compromise, a remedy for life’s issues.

Reproach only oneself instead of others;
    this is the way out of resentment.
Trust only oneself instead of others;
    this would be the cause of failure.

When matters become difficult to deal with,
    just one step backwards will make it easier;
When success is right within reach,
    just one moment of laxation will throw it away.

It is necessary to conceal true talent
    just as unpolished gold and jade
    slowly reveal their splendors.
It is important to persist in one’s learning,
    just as flowing water and floating clouds
    unknowingly progress day by day.

To have an impetuous temperament
    that cannot stand even the smallest problems
    is a great taboo of being human;
To have a forbearing character
    that is willing to be at disadvantages
    is the best way to deal with the world.

One word suffices to cause a major catastrophe;
This is why those in the past remained tight-lipped
    out of the fear that it could cause them to fall.
Once action suffices to destroy the rest of one’s life;
This is why those in the past guarded themselves
    as if protecting an impeccable piece of jade
    from any possible flaws.

── from Weilu Yehua (Evening Talk around the Fire Stove)