12月14日

誡伯禽
周 周公 ( ?~1105 B.C.E. )

君子力如牛，不與牛爭力；
走如馬，不與馬爭走；
智如士，不與士爭智。
德行廣大而守以恭者，榮。
土地博裕而守以儉者，安。
祿位尊盛而守以卑者，貴。
人眾兵強而守以畏者，勝。
聰明叡智而守以愚者，益。
博聞多記而守以淺者，廣。

──選自《太平御覽》

【譯文】
有德行的人即使力大如牛，也不會與牛競爭力
的大小；即使飛跑如馬，也不會與馬競爭速度的快慢；
即使智慧如士，也不會與士競爭智力高下。

德行廣大者以謙恭的態度自處，便會得到榮耀。土地
廣闊富饒，用節儉的方式生活，便會永遠平安。官高位
尊而用卑微的方式自律，你便更顯尊貴。兵多人眾而以
小心翼翼的心理堅守崗位，你就必然勝利。聰明叡智而
用大智若愚的態度處世，你將獲益良多。博聞強記而用
膚淺自謙,你將見識更廣。

December 14

Admonition for Bo Qin
Duke of Zhou ( ? - 1105 BCE, Zhou Dynasty)
English translation: Hsin-Yu Huang

Honorable men have the strength of oxes,
    but do not compete with oxes in strength.
They may race like horses,
    but do not compete with horses in speed.
They may be wise as scholars,
    but do not compete with scholars in wisdom.
Those who have great virtue
    but handle things with modesty will gain honor.
Those who own vast lands
    but live with frugality will find peace.
Those with high official positions
    but discipline themselves with humbleness
    will be respectable.
Those who have powerful armies
    but guard their posts carefully
    will emerge victorious.
Those who are smart but appear ignorant
    will gain numerous benefits.
Those who read extensively and have good memories
    but appear shallow will have their horizon broadened.

── from Taiping Yulan (Imperial Readings of the Taiping Era)