Enlarged Collection of Mottoes
--A Primary Textbook for Children-----
（三）
Revised by Zhou Xitao
Translated by Zhang Hongyan and Chen Shuiming
重订《增广贤文》 （三）
原作者 佚名；周希陶（明）改编； 陈水明 张鸿雁英译
 百年容易过，青春不再来。
欲寡精神爽，思多血气衰。
一头白发催将去，万两黄金买不回。
略尝辛苦方为福，不作聪明便是才。
终身疾病，恒从新婚造起；
盖世勋猷，多是老成建来。
One hundred years is easily spent, but the youth never returns.
He who has few sexual desires is refreshed; he who cares too much easily gets weak. (Care killed a cat.)
Grey-hair buries man’s youth, which can never be bought back even for ten thousand pieces of gold.
It is a kind of good fortune for one to bear a few hardships; it is a kind of ability for one not to consider oneself wise.
The sickness one suffers all life often starts from one’s honeymoon and one’s matchless feats are often performed with one’s honesty.
见者易，学者难。
莫将容易得，便作待闲看。
万恶淫为首，百善孝为先。
妻贤夫祸少，子孝父心宽。
事亲须当养志，爱子勿令偷安。
不求金玉重重贵，但愿儿孙个个贤。
却愁前面勿多路，及早承欢向膝前。
祭而丰不如养之厚；
悔之晚何若谨于前。
It is easy to watch a work done, but it is difficult to learn to do a work.
Don’t consider what you gain easily worthless.
Of all evils lasciviousness is the first and of all virtues filial duty is most important.
He whose wife is kind and virtuous hardly meets misfortune; he whose son is filial is always comfortable.
To attend upon you parents you should look into their mind and make them happy; to love your son you shouldn’t have him idle about all day long.
Don’t want to gain wealth and nobility, but only wish every son and grandson able and virtuous.
Please you parents in time because of few days left to them.
Better to serve your parents well than to offer a fine sacrifice to them; better to take precaution before than to cry over spilt milk afterwards.
花送春光，一番雨一番风催归尘土；
竹坚雅操，几朝霜几朝雪傲就琅玕。
The flowers contest for beauty in spring but will turn into dust with guest of rain and wind;
The bamboo keeps strong and green, though it suffers from bitter frost and snow, still it proudly stands firm and erect.
言顾行，行顾言。
为事在人。成事在天。
伤人一语，痛如刀割。
杀人一万，自损三千。
击石原有火，逢仇莫结冤。
Words and deeds should be matched with each other/
Man proposes. God disposes.
Many words cut more than swords.
Kill ten thousand men of the opposite side and three thousand men of your own side will be killed.
There surely appear sparks when strike a stone, therefor better not to turn an antagonist into enemy.
有容德乃大，无欲心自闲。
瓜田不纳履，李下不整冠。
With a heart of tolerance one is really virtuous; without lust one is naturally be at ease.
Don’t put on your shoes in the melon field, nor put right your hat under the plum tree (so as to avoid arousing suspicion).
误处皆缘不学，强作乃成自然。
将相顶头堪走马，公侯肚内好撑船。
Mistakes result from little learning; try your best to cultivate the habit of working and it will come natural to you.
The magnanimity of the general and the premier is as wide and broad as the plain and the sea, which admit running horses and sailing ships.
贫不卖书留子孙，老犹栽竹与人看。
不作风波于世上，但留清白在人间。
勿因群疑而阻独见，勿任己意而废人言。
Though poor, you shouldn’t sell your books so as to leave them to your children; though old, still you should plant bamboo for following generations to enjoy.
Don’t make storm (referring to fraud) on earth, but leave purity to the world.
Don’t refuse a man’s opinion on account of many people’s suspicion, nor give up a man’s suggestion on account of your own will.
路逢险处，为人辟一步周行，便觉天宽地阔；
遇到穷时，使我留三分抚恤，自然理顺情安。
事有急之不白者，宽之或自明，勿操急以速其愤；
人有切之不从者，纵之或自化，勿操切以益其顽。
Make a little room for people on the narrow way and you’ll feel the world is wide; Make a little consolation for yourself while you are poor, naturally you’ll feel at ease and justified.
Don’t hastily drive a man crazy who is too excited to provide explanation for himself, perhaps he’ll come to later; nor drive a man stubborn who cannot be forced to follow you for the time being, let him be, perhaps he’ll gradually understand.
道路各别，养家一般。
逸态闲情，惟期自尚；清标傲骨，不愿人怜。
他急我不急，人闲心不闲。
富人思来年，贫人顾眼前。
The ways to support the family are different, but the purpose of doing so is the same.
He who has leisure and mood for enjoyments can boast of being noble-minded and he who has lofty and unyielding character never likes to be pitied any way.
Don’t be impatient while others may be, nor stop thinking when you are unoccupied.
The rich consider affairs of next year, while the poor, the business on hand.
忙中多错事，醉后吐真言。
上山擒虎易，开口告人难。
不是撑船手，休要提槁竿。
好言一句三冬暖，话不投机六月寒。
知音说与知音听，不是知音莫与谈。
Haste makes waste; when wine is in truth is out.
It is easier to hunt tigers in the mountains than ask others for help.
If you are not a boatman, don’t use the barge-pole---Act according to one’s ability.
Fine words make winter warm, disagreeable ones make summer chilly.
Tell intimate words to the intimate friends, but not to those who are not.
谗言败坏真君子，美色消磨狂少年。
用心计较般般错，退步思量事事难。
但有绿杨堪系马，处处有路到长安。
Slanderous talks destroy honest people; beauties wear down crazy young men.
To be careful in plotting and scheming you’ll still think every plan insufficient; on second thought, you’ll realize every step is difficult.
If there are green poplars that can be used for tying horses, then every road leads to Changan [It is similar to as long as the green mountains are there, one need not worry about firewood.]
人欲从初起处剪除，如斩新刍，工夫极易；若从其便，而姑为染指，则深入万仞。
天理自乍见时充拓，如磨尘镜，光彩渐增；若惮其难，而稍为退步，便远隔千山。
Like cutting fresh grass, it is easy to nip the human greed in the bud. If let it [i.e. human greed] be and touch it a little, you’ll fall into the bottom abyss.
Like rubbing a dusty glass, the more you rub, the brighter it gets. To understand the heavenly principles is just similar to doing so, if you start to search after them the moment they emerge, the more you pursue them, the brighter they get. If you fear doing so is difficult and retreat a little, they would leave far apart.
风息时，休起浪；岸到处，便离船。
隐恶扬善，谨行慎言。
自处超然，处人蔼然。
得意坎然，失意泰然。
老当益壮，穷且益坚。
Don’t raise the waves when the wind stops; get off the ship when it pulls into the shore.
Conceal other man’s bad points and praise his good ones; be careful in your words and actions.
Stay away from the scene of contention in treating yourself and be polite and amiable while get along with others.
Don’t be self-satisfied when succeed; be self-possessed when you are disappointed.
Though old, you should still keep vigorous spirit; though poor, you should still cherish a high aspiration.
榜上名扬，蓬门增色；
床头金尽，壮士无颜。
由俭如奢易，由奢入俭难。
少成若天性，习惯成自然。
Once a man’s name is on the state examination, his humble house is honored immediately; even a hero once has got no money, he’ll immediately get shy.
It is easy to implement luxury from austerity, but not to do austerity from luxury.
The habit formed when young is like a kind of nature；
Habit makes things natural; once you form it, it comes nature to you.
自奉必须俭约，宴客切勿流连。
枯木逢春犹再发，人无两度再少年。
少而寡欲颜长好，老不求官梦亦闲。
书有未曾经我读，事无不可对人言。
It must be thrifty to treat yourself; avoid keeping your guests too long while entertaining them.
A withered tree can regenerate when spring comes, but man can never be young two times.
He who restrains sexual desire when young will always look vigorous; he who doesn’t seek ranks when old will always feel at ease even in his dream.
There are books that you haven’t read; be always as open and aboveboard as having no private matters to hide.
兄弟叔侄，需分多润寡；长幼内外，宜法肃词严。
一饭一粥，当思来处不易；半丝半缕，恒念物力维艰。
人学始知道，不学亦徒然。
愚而好自用，贱而好自专。
有书真富贵，无事小神仙。
出岫孤云，去来一无所系；悬空朗镜，妍丑两不相干。
Often have your brothers, uncles and nephews properly benefit each other and treat them honestly both in actions and words。
Even for a few grains of rice you should think that they are hard to grow; even for a single thread you should think that it is difficultly made.
Learn, then you’ll know you know insufficiently; not learn, you’ll know nothing.
The stupid people often like to be self-willed and morbid; the humble people often like to decide for themselves.
With books one is really rich; without sundry duties one is as comfortable as an immortal.
(The virtuous people are like) the solitary clouds from the valley of the mountains flow freely everywhere; they are also like the bright glass hanged in the sky that has nothing to do with the images it shines over in the world whether they [images] are beautiful or ugly.
劝君作福便无钱，祸到临头使万千。
善恶关头休错认，一失人身万劫难。
When you are advised to do a little charity, no money you always say;
But for a misfortune, ten thousand teals of gold you have to pay;
Please don’t mistake the limit between good deed and evil deed,
Because once you fall into hell, you’ll never regain a human body.
积德若为山，九仞休亏一篑；
容人须学海，十分满尚纳百川。
To accumulate virtue is like to build a hill. Don’t stop achieving success by a very narrow margin (The lack of one basketful of earth spoils the entire effort to build a nine-ren hill --- a quotation from Confucius);
To be tolerant towards others you must learn from the sea, which admits all rivers though it is full of water.
为善最乐，为恶难逃。
He who does good deeds is most happy and he who does evil cannot escape punishment.
养兵千日，用在一朝。
Maintain and train an army for a thousand days in order to use it in an emergent time.
国清才子贵；家富小儿骄。
Men of talent get precious while the political situation of the country is stable;
The children get haughty while the family is rich.
士为知己用；节不岁寒凋。
不因渔父引，怎得见波涛。
但知口中有剑，不知袖里藏刀。
春蚕到死丝方尽，恶语伤人恨难消。
An honest man is ready to serve the man who knows and appreciates him; like the pine and cypress, the honest man never turns his moral integrity in difficult times.
Without the guidance of the fisherman, how can you watch roaring waves!
It is easy to know the sword in one’s mouth, but not the knife hidden in one’s sleeve (It means it is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow shot from hiding).
Spring silk-worm doesn’t stop making silk till its death; the hatred caused by bad languages can hardly vanish.
入山不怕伤人虎，只怕人情两面刀。
世间公道惟白发，贵人头上不曾饶。
无求到处人缘好，不饮随他酒价高。
The fierce tighter in the mountains is terrible but the double-face human relationship in the world is still more.
The fairest thing in the world is grey-hair, it treats everyone equally, whether he is man of property or of nobility.
Without asking for help you’ll meet smiling faces everywhere; without drinking who cares about the price of wine.
书画是雅事，一贪痴便成商贾；
山林是胜地，一营恋变成市朝。
Painting and calligraphy is a kind of tasteful affair, but once you indulge in it, you’ll be liable to turn into a man seeking fame and gain;
Originally wooded mountains were scenic spots, once they are decorated, they’ll become into the places where people bustle about.
情欲意识属妄心，消杀得妄心尽，而后真心现；
矜高倨傲是客气，降伏得客气平，而后正气调。
Every selfish desire is a kind of fancy, only it is given up, the real desire emerges; Arrogance is a kind of objective energy, only it is suppressed, can the right energy be in harmonious proportion.
因风吹火，用力不多。
光阴似箭，日月如梭。
吉人之辞寡，躁人之辞多。
It saves force to blow a fire in the direction of wind.
Time flies as fast as an arrow; the sun and the moon move as repeatedly as the shuttle ----(It means how time flies.)
The honest man is serene and the arrogant man is talkative.
黄金未为贵，安乐值钱多。
儿孙胜于我，要钱做什么？
儿孙不如我，要钱做什么？
Comfort is more precious than gold.
If my children and grandchildren are abler than I, why should I accumulate much wealth for them? (It is because they can earn themselves); if they are not abler than I, why should I accumulate much wealth for them as well? (It is because they’ll spend without restraint.)
会使不在家豪富，风雅不用着衣多。
强中自有强中手，恶人自有恶人磨。
知事少时烦恼少，识人多处是非多。
世间好语书说尽，天下名山寺占多。
积德百年元气厚，读书三代雅人多。
He who can manage wealth well needn’t be from a rich and powerful family; he who is elegant needn’t be dressed in fine clothes.
Among the strong people there are still stronger;
The vile creature is naturally be subdued by those who are still viler.
He who knows few miscellaneous affairs is little worried; he who has many acquaintances has many troubles.
All the fine words are recorded in books; in most of famous mountains are built Buddhist temples.
Great congenital essence lies in the family that has accumulated virtue for hundred years. Intelligent people are constantly emerging from the family that has learned for three generations.
上为父母，中为己身，下为儿女，做得清方了却平生事；
立上等品，为中等事，享下等福，守得定才是个安乐窝。
一念常惺，才避得去神弓鬼矢；
纤尘不染，方解得开地网天罗。
富贵是无情之物，你看得他重，他害你越大；
贫贱是耐久之物，你处得他好，他益你必多。
Having carried your duties to your parents, your children and yourself may be counted as having settled the matter weighing on your mind; constantly cultivating first grade moral character; doing middle rate works and enjoying low grade happy life may be counted as living in the cosy nest.
With a sober brain you’ll be able to escape god’s bow and demon’s arrow, (i.e. natural disaster); with a pure honesty you’ll be able to get rid of nets above and snares below.
Wealth and rank is a kind of ruthless thing, the more you regard it important, the more seriously it harms you; poverty and lowly position is a durable friend, the better you get along with it, it will benefit you.
谦恭待人，忠孝传家。
不学无术，读书便佳。
男以女为室，女以男为家。
根深不怕风摇动，表正何愁日影斜。
Modestly and courteously get along with people and bequeath loyalty and filial piety to later generations.
Reading is a good way for those who have neither learning nor technique.
Man depends on woman as his home and woman depends on her husband as her family.
With a deep root the tree fears no strong wind; the straight pole always has a straight shadow --- An honest man fears no scandal-monger.
能休尘境为真境，未了僧家是俗家。
That one can get rid of the troubles of the world means that one reaches the true realm; otherwise; even one is a Buddhist monk in form, still one is a layman in spirit.
成家犹如针挑土，败家好似水推沙，
池塘积水堪防旱，田地深耕足养家
It is as difficult as moving the earth with a pin to enrich the family and to destroy it is as easy as washing the sands by flowing.
Store water in the reservoir so as to guard against drought; plough deep and farm well so as to support the family。
讲学不商躬行，为口头禅；
立业不思种德，如眼前花。
一段不为的气节，是撑天立地的柱石；
一点不忍的念头，是生民育物的根芽。
Preaching without implementing means repeating pet phrases; accomplishing tasks without considering accumulating virtue is like the flower that only blossoms briefly.
Moral courage is like a gigantic pillar; a little sympathetic idea is the bud for cherishing people and raising plants
早起三光，迟起三慌。
顺天者存，逆天者亡。
世路风波，炼心之境；人情冷暖，忍性之场
To get up early gives one plenty of time and to get up late makes one hurried.
Those who obey the mandate of Heaven will prosper, while those who defy it will perish.
The storm in the world helps to build man’s willpower; the cold and warmth of human relationship is the circumstance where man’s patience is formed.
爽口食多终作疾，快心事过心生殃。
汤武以谔谔而昌；桀纣以惟惟而亡。
Delicious food often causes diseases; joy begets sorrow.
Listening to frank words Emperors Tang and Wu succeeded and got flourishing; while listening to flatter remarks Emperors Jie and Zhou failed and went to their doom.
量窄气大，发短心长。
善必寿考，恶必早亡。
The narrow-minded are liable to be irritable; the old are wise and full of stratagems.
The virtuous often live long;; the vicious surely die young.
与治同道罔不兴，与乱同事罔不亡。
富贵要依本分，贫穷不必枉思量。
福不可邀，养喜神以为招福之本；
祸不可避，去杀机为远祸之方。
He who makes friends with the virtuous will surely be flourishing; and he who makes friends with the vicious will surely go to his doom.
Being rich one must act according to natural principles; being poor one shouldn’t harbor vicious desires.
Good fortune cannot be obtained by ill ways, to hold virtuous intentions is the best way to get it; misfortune cannot be escaped, to give up vicious intentions is the best way to avoid it.
贪他一斗米，反失一肘羊。
不贪为宝，两不相伤。
Coveting other man’s one bushel of grain you’ll lose the harvest of one year; robbing one pig’s trotter of others you’ll lose a sheep.
If you don’t consider it a treasure to covert other man’s thing, then both sides lose nothing.
画水无风偏作浪，绣花虽好不闻香。
贫无达士将金赠，病有高人说药方。
三生有幸，一饭不忘。
见善如不及，见恶如探汤。
隐逸林中无荣辱，道义路上泯炎凉。
秋至满院皆秀色，春来无处不花香。
Though there is no wind, there are waves on painting water; though embroidered flowers are beautiful, they give off no fragrance.
No rich and honorable people are willing to give money to the poor, but there are men with noble character who are happy to give the patient prescriptions.
Unexpected gain obtained while you are in awkward positions, even a simple meal you cannot easily forget.
Consider the virtue as the thing that cannot easily be followed, and consider the evil as the porridge that is too hot to be touched.
The hermit living in the forest doesn’t feel honor disgrace; on the way of morality and justice there is no snobbishness.
In autumn all the mountains look beautiful; in spring all flowers give out sweet scent everywhere.
恶忌阴，善忌阳。
穷灶门，富水缸。
家贼难防，偷断屋梁。
坐吃如山崩，游嬉则业荒。
It is a bad thing to do an evil deed and not want to be known and so it is also a bad thing to do a good deed and want it to be known.
Lay little firewood in the kitchen but much water in the water jug there.
Thieves within a household are hard to guard against, they would steal everything from home.
Sit idle and eat, then your whole fortune will be used up soon; play without learning then your professional knowledge will be neglected some day.
居身务期质朴，训子要有义方。
富若不教子，钱谷必消亡；
贵若不教子，衣冠不久长。
能师孟母三迁教，定卜燕山五芳。
国有贤臣安社稷，家无逆子恼爹娘。
Lead your life simply and teach your sons with good principles.
If the rich do not teach their sons, they would soon have their grains and fortune lost; if the noble do not teach their sons, they would be unable to keep their positions long.
If one can follow the example of Mencius’s mother (who changed her house three times to avoid bad influence on her son) one would expect to get the good result as that of Mr Dou Yanshan (whose five sons passed the state examination on account of his strict teaching way).
If in the state there are able officials, the state surely can be well managed; if in a family there is no disobedient son, the parents will surely not be troubled.
说话人短，记话人长。
平生只会说人短，何不回头把己量？
言易招尤，对亲友少说两句；
书能化俗，教儿孙多读几行。
He who speaks seldom remembers what he has spoken and the listener often long remembers what he has heard.
If you were used to gossiping about people, why not ask yourself what you have done?
Words are easy to incur blame, better speak little to your friends (Silence is gold.); Books can make people get rid of vulgarities, better teach your children to read more.
Don’t bear in mind what you have done good turns to others but should remember what good turns others have done to you.
刻薄成家，理无久享；
伦常乖舛，立见消亡。
触来莫与说，事过心清凉。
He who makes his family thriving by mean methods naturally cannot enjoy the comfort long; without normal human relationships the family will soon be perished.
Don’t talk to the man who is in angry state, after several hours naturally he’ll become sober and calm.
君子不可貌相；海水不可斗量。
蓬蒿之下，或有兰香；
茅茨之屋，或有公王。
The virtuous man cannot be judged by his appearance, nor the water in the sea can be measured with a bucket.
Among the weeds there may grow fragrant flowers and perhaps the humble cottages can bring forth emperors and princes.
一家饱暖千家怨；万世机谋二世亡。
狐眠败砌，兔走荒台，尽是当年歌舞地；
露冷黄花，烟迷绿草，悉为旧日争战场。
One noble and rich family’s happiness was based on the bitter lives of many families’；
He cunningly planned to have his royal court last thousands of generations but the royal court only lasted for two and perished. (Here it refers to the First Emperor of Qin,246-214 B.C)
The places where foxes sleep, hares run and broken walls lie are all the grounds in which singing and dancing parties held in former days. The places where grow faded chrysanthemum flowers with cold dew and green grass hidden in mist are all the ancient battle fields.
拨开世上尘氛，胸中自无火炎水竞；
消去心中鄙吝，眼前时有鸟语花香。
Clear the dusty atmosphere of the world, naturally there are no fire and water contending in your mind; give up the stingy and mean intention harbored in your heart, before you will take place a scene where birds sing and flowers give forth their fragrance.
贫穷自在，富贵多忧。
既往不咎，覆水难收。
人无远虑，必有近忧。
勿临渴而掘井，宜未雨而绸缪。
The poor are unrestrained but the rich are often heavyhearted.
Let bygones be bygones; split water cannot be gathered. (It means what is done cannot be undone.)
Without far consideration one will have immediate troubles.
It would be best to get prepared before it rains; don’t sink a well at the last minute to relieve thirst.
宁向直中取，不可曲中求。
驭横切莫逞气，止谤还要自修。
忍得一时之气，免得百日之忧。
是非只为多开口，烦恼皆因强出头。
酒虽养性还乱性，水能载舟亦覆舟。
Rather take it by honest means than take it by mean methods.
Don’t be self-willed while deal with the unreasonable; to stop being scandalized you must behave yourself.
To swallow temporary anger will avoid lasting misfortune.
One’s trouble comes from one’s more words and vexation comes from the action beyond one’s power.
Wine can preserve man’s character, but still can confuse it; water can support ships but can still capsize them.
克己者，触事皆成药石；
尤人者，启口即是戈矛。
以直报怨，以义解仇。
He who can control himself takes experience and nourishment from everything he meets;
He who always blames god and man often hurts people once he speaks.
Requite ingratitude with honesty and eliminate hostility with justice.
撞敬日强，安肆日偷。
惧法朝朝乐，欺公日日忧。
晴干不肯去，直待雨淋头。
He who behaves with dignity will improve himself constantly; he who indulges himself will make his virtue decline day by day.
He who observes the law is always happy, and he who violates the law and commits crimes will be anxious every day.
If you don’t go on a journey on the fine day, then you will have to be showered by the rain (It means make hay while the sun shines).
儿孙自有儿孙福，莫与儿孙作马牛。
人生七十古来稀，问君还有几春秋。
当出力处须出力，得缩头时且缩头。
The following generations have their own good fortune, don’t serve them like a horse or an ox.
Rare people can live to seventy since ancient time, how long can you live to that age?
Put forth your strength where you are wanted; retreat when the circumstance wants you to do so.
生年不满百，常怀千岁忧。
逢桥须下马，有路莫登舟。
路逢险处须当避，事到头时不自由。
Man cannot live to one hundred years old but is always concerned with the matters that may happen within one thousand years.
Dismount from the horse before the bridge and don’t travel by ship if there is an overland way.
Avoid taking dangerous way when the critical moment comes before you, as there is no time for you to make a decision.
吴宫花草埋幽径，晋代衣冠成古丘。
功名富贵若长在，汉水亦应西北流。
青冢草深，万念尽同灰冷；
黄梁梦觉，一身都似云浮。
What are now left in the former palace of the Wu Kingdom (222-280) are only secluded paths covered with flowers and plants; the former mansions of the men of nobility and wealth of the Jin Dynasty (317-420) have become into wasteland.
If the fame and wealth could last forever, the Han River could also flow in the reverse direction..
Watching the Green Tomb covered with grass (where Madam Wang Zhaojun was buried.) one would be extremely pessimistic; awaking from an illusion dream one will give up the desire of glory, fame, wealth and rank.
（待续） |
