3月29日

《荀子》選 ─ 勸學篇
戰國 荀子 ( 313~238 B.C.E. )

積土成山，風雨興焉；積水成淵，蛟龍生焉。
不積蹞(1)步，無以致千里；不積小流，無以成江海。
騏驥(2)一躍，不能十步；駑馬十駕，功在不舍。
鍥(3)而舍之，朽木不折；鍥而不舍，金石可鏤。

──選自《荀子》

【註】(1)蹞:半步。(2)騏驥:駿馬。(3)鍥:鏤刻。

March 29th

Selections from Xunzi - Encouragement for Learning
Xunzi (313 BCE - 238 BCE, Warring States Period)
English translation: Miao Guang

When earth accumulates to form a mountain,
      the winds and rains thereupon flourish;
When water accumulates to form a deep well,
      a dragon controlling rain and flood is thus born.

Without the accumulation of half-steps,
      a thousand miles cannot be crossed;
Without the accumulation of small streams,
      rivers and oceans cannot be formed.

A steed cannot exceed ten steps in a single leap,
      while a nag can keep running for ten days by
      never giving up.

To give up only after a few chisels,
      not even rotten wood will snap;
To keep chiseling without giving up,
      even gold and stone can be engraved.

── from Xunzi