1月18日

吃虧是福
清 張英 ( 1637~1708 )

天道有滿損虛益之義，鬼神有虧盈福謙之理。
自古只聞忍與讓足以消無窮之災悔，
未聞忍與讓反以釀後來之禍患也。
欲行忍讓之道，先從小事做起；
每見天下大獄，多起於小事。
故凡天下事，受得小氣，則不至於受大氣；
受得小虧，則不致於受大虧。

──選自《張文端集》

January 18th

When Disadvantage Becomes an Advantage
Zhang Yin (1637 - 1708, Qing Dynasty)
English translation: Miao Guang

The heavenly law works in a way that arrogance brings
harm, while modesty attracts benefits. The spirits and
deities follow these rules, creating losses for those who are
complacent, and supplementing those who are modest.

Since ancient times, there have been well-known
sayings that tolerance and concession can eradicate
endless calamities, but never anything about tolerance and
concession resulting in calamities.

The practice of tolerance and concession begins with
small things; likewise, those in prison also began with small
things. Amongst worldly affairs, when one has the capacity
to endure minor mistreatments, they will be less likely to
encounter serious ones. When one has the capacity to take
in minor disadvantages, they will be less likely to encounter
major ones.

── from Zhang Wenrui Ji (Collected Works by Zhang Wenrui)