12月7日

《菜根譚》選 ─ 嚴己寬人
明 洪應明 ( 生卒年不詳 )

人之論我也，與其能辯，不如能容；
人之侮我也，與其能防，不如能化。
攻人之惡，毋太嚴，要思其堪受；
教人之善，毋過高，當使其可從。

──選自《菜根譚》

December 7

Selections from Tending the Roots of Wisdom - Be Strict with Oneself and Lenient Towards Others
Hong Yingming (Years unknown, Ming Dynasty)
English translation: John Balcom

When someone speaks of me,
It's better to tolerate it than debate about it.
When someone insults me,
It's better to let it go than try to prevent it.
Do not be too harsh in chastising people for their unwholesomeness,
You must consider what they can endure.
Do not set the bar too high when teaching people wholesomeness,
You must consider what they are capable of achieving.

── from Cai Gen Tan (Tending the Roots of Wisdom)