论谦虚

夫自足者不足，自明者不明。日月至光至大，而有所不遍者，以其高於眾之上也。燈燭至微至小，而無不可之者，以其明之下，能照日月之所蔽也。

On Humbleness

东山译

Those who claim themselves to be perfect are in fact deficient. Those who think they are brilliant are in fact dull. The sun and the moon may be huge and the brightest, but they cannot light up every corner of the world for they are too high up in the fathomless sky above everything else. The glow of a candle may be weak and petite, but its light can reach anywhere, illuminating all dark curves and bents on earth beyond the reach of the glorious sun and the lovely moon.

-《Essences of Myriad Books》, Vol. 47: “Liu Yi On Governing”

【作者简介】刘廙（180年—221年），字恭嗣，南阳（今河南南阳市）人，汉末魏初名士。西汉长沙定王刘发之子安众康侯刘丹之后。初从荆州牧刘表，后投奔曹操，甚受器重，为黄门侍郎。曹丕继位，擢为侍中，并赐爵关内侯。为政主张先刑后礼，且通天文历数之术，与司马徽、丁仪等名流相齐。黄初二年（221）卒。著书数十篇。

（原载《海外南开人》101期，1/21/2016）