八观

通则观其所礼，贵则观其所进，富则观其所养，听则观其所行，止则观其所好，习则观其所言，穷则观其所不受，贱则观其所不为。

-《吕氏春秋-管仲·论人》

Eight Ways to Observe Man

东山 译

When a man becomes hotshot, to see if he is still modest, polite, and law-abiding.

When a man becomes a dignitary, to see what kind of people he promotes.

When a man becomes wealthy, to see for whom he spends money, what he invests in.

A man’s words are gauged by his deeds.

When a man is no longer an official, to see what he would go after without being overseen.

When a man studies, to see what he says on the books and know his views.

When a man is in poverty, to see what he does not accept.

When a man is in a lowly position, to see what he doesn’t do.

- 《The Lu Annals-Guan Zhong：On Man》

（原载《海外南开人》95期，07/19/2015）