先正格言  / xiān zhèng gé yán /
Mottoes of the Forefathers 
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10月29日

先正格言
明 高攀龍 ( 1562~1626 ) 世界第一好事,莫如救難憐貧。 濟人不在大費己財,但以方便存心, 殘羹剩飯,可救人之饑; 敝衣敗絮,可濟人之寒。 酒筵省得一二味,餽贈省得一二品, 少置衣服一二套,省去長物一二件, 切切為貧人算計。 存些盈餘,以濟人急難。 去無用,可成大用;積小惠,可成大德。 此為善中一大功課。 ──選自《高氏家訓》

October 29

Mottoes of the Forefathers
Gao Panlong (1562 - 1626, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: William Chong

The greatest deed is none other than relieving the
distressed and sympathizing with the poor. Giving relief
does not require a large sum of one's money, but only calls
for a mind of expediency. Even leftover soup and rice
can satisfy others' hunger, and ragged clothes can protect
others from the cold.

A dish or two dispensed from a banquet, a present
or two omitted, an outfit or two excluded from one's
possession, and a luxurious item or two economized can
all be one's consideration for the poor.

Keep some extra savings as relief aids for others at
times of emergency, eliminate the purposeless for great
purposes, and accumulate small merits for great virtues.
These are all part of the major lesson for the deeds of goodness.

── from Gaoshi Jiaxun (Gao Family Motto)

References:
《獻給旅行者們365日──中華文化佛教寶典》365 Days for Travelers: Wisdom from Chinese Literary and Buddhist Classics 
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