2月29日

《幼學瓊林》選
明 程登吉(生卒年不詳)

求士莫求全，
用人如用木。

為善則流芳百世，
為惡則遺臭萬年。

心多過慮，何異杞人憂天；
事不量力，不殊夸父追日。

韶華不再，吾輩須當惜陰；
日月其除，志士正宜待旦。

問舍求田，原無大志；
揭天掀地，方是奇才。
憑空起事，謂之平地風波；
獨立不移，謂之中流砥柱。

事先敗而後成，曰失之東隅，收之桑榆；
事將成而終止，曰為山九仞，功虧一簣。

──選自《幼學瓊林》

February 29th

Compendium of Learning for Children
Cheng Dengji (Years unknown, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

In recruiting learned scholars,
    do not aim for perfection of character;
In employing people of skill,
    use the right talent in the right way.

Those who do good deeds,
    will be remembered well.
Those who do evil deeds,
    shall go down in history in disgrace.

The act of overthinking everything
    is no different from fearing that
    the sky will fall;
The act of overestimating one’s strength
    is no different from chasing after the sun.

Youth is no more, we must cherish time;
Time waits for no one, ambitious ones,
Seize your opportunities to rise.

It takes no ambition to own a shelter and land;
Only a genius can turn the world upside down.

Fabrications founded upon nothing
    are unexpected troubles;
Standing firm and independent
    is a pillar rock in midstream.

To succeed after failing:
    a loss at sunrise and a gain at sunset.
To give up right before success:
    to fall short due to lack of a final effort.

── from Youxue Qionglin (Compendium of Learning for Children)