《論語》記錄了孔子一生的精辟言論及見解,發(fā)人深省。我們上學(xué)時(shí)都曾經(jīng)熟讀并且背誦過一些《論語》中的句子。今天我們來看看翻譯成英文版的孔子語錄是什么樣子的。
溫故而知新,可以為師矣。 If a man keeps cherishing his old knowledge, so as continually to be acquiring new, he may be a teacher of others.
唯女子與小人,為難養(yǎng)也。近之則不孫,遠(yuǎn)之則怨。 Of all people, girls and servants are the most difficult to behave to. If you are familiar with them, they lose their humility. If you maintain a reserve towards them, they are discontented.
吾十有五而志于學(xué),三十而立,四十而不惑,五十而知天命,六十而耳順,七十而從心所欲,不逾矩。 At fifteen I set my heart upon learning. At thirty, I planted my feet firm upon the ground. At forty, I no longer suffered from perplexities. At fifty, I knew what were the biddings of Heaven. At sixty, I heard them with docile ear. At seventy, I could follow the dictates of my own heart; for what I desired no longer overstepped the boundaries of right.
不患人之不己知,患不知人也。 I will not be afflicted at men's not knowing me; I will be afflicted that I do not know men.
工欲善其事,必先利其器。 A craftsman who wishes to do his work well must first sharpen his tools.
君子欲訥于言,而敏于行。 The superior man wishes to be slow in his speech and earnest in his conduct.
君子成人之美,不成人之惡,小人反是。 The superior man seeks to perfect the admirable qualities of men, and does not seek to perfect their bad qualities. The mean man does the opposite of this.
道不同,不相為謀。 Those whose courses are different cannot lay plans for one another.
性相近也,習(xí)相遠(yuǎn)也。 By nature, men are nearly alike; by practice, they get to be wide apart.
過而不改,是謂過矣。 Not to mend the fault one has made is to err indeed.
己所不欲,勿施于人。 What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others.
言必信,行必果。 Keep what you say and carry out what you do.
有朋自遠(yuǎn)方來,不亦樂乎? Is it not delightful to have friends coming from distant quarters?
人不知而不慍,不亦君子乎? Is he not a man of complete virtue, who feels no discomposure though men may take no note of him?
逝者如斯夫,不舍晝夜。 It passes on just like this, not ceasing day or night!
人無遠(yuǎn)慮,必有近憂。 If a man takes no thought about what is distant, he will find sorrow near at hand.
知者樂水,仁者樂山。知者動(dòng),仁者靜。知者樂,仁者壽。 The wise find pleasure in water; the virtuous find pleasure in hills. The wise are active; the virtuous are tranquil. The wise are joyful; the virtuous are long-lived.
非禮勿視,非禮勿聽,非禮勿言,非禮勿動(dòng)。 Look not at what is contrary to propriety; listen not to what is contrary to propriety; speak not what is contrary to propriety; make no movement which is contrary to propriety.
當(dāng)仁,不讓于師。 When it comes to benevolence, one need not give precedence even to his teacher.
學(xué)而時(shí)習(xí)之,不亦說乎? Is it not pleasant to learn with a constant perseverance and application?
敏而好學(xué),不恥下問。 He was of an active nature and yet fond of learning, and he was not ashamed to ask and learn of his inferiors.
三人行,必有我?guī)熝伞衿渖普叨鴱闹?,其不善者而改之?br>When I walk along with two others, they may serve me as my teachers. I will select their good qualities and follow them, their bad qualities and avoid them.
(本文所選語錄由英國蘇格蘭漢學(xué)家理雅各先生翻譯。理雅各,英文名James Legge,詹姆斯·萊格,英國蘇格蘭漢學(xué)家,曾在香港主持英華書院,翻譯多本中國古代著作。)
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