故达人观物外之物，思身后之身，宁受一时之寂寞，毋取万古之凄凉。
If you strive to make Truth your home, You may sometimes be lonely; But fawning on the powerful and influential, You will feel the chill of solitude for the ages.
涉世浅，点染亦浅；历事深，机械亦深。
When you step but lightly through the world, You are but lightly affected by it; But when you pass through events with a deeper tread, Their tricks and schemes are profound.
Thus the gentleman knows Simplicity is better than a show of dexterity.
Thus he knows A rude single-mindedness is better than a distorted show of manners.
故君子与其练达，不若朴鲁；与其曲谨，不若疏狂。
When you step but lightly through the world, You are but lightly affected by it; But when you pass through events with a deeper tread, Their tricks and schemes are profound.
Thus the gentleman knows Simplicity is better than a show of dexterity.
Thus he knows A rude single-mindedness is better than a distorted show of manners.
君子之心事，天青日白，不可使人不知。
The gentleman's disposition Is like the clear sky, the bright sun, And he should not hide it from others.
The gentleman's outstanding abilities Are like concealed jewels or gems stored away: He should not easily reveal them.
君子之才华，玉韫珠藏，不可使人易知。
The gentleman's disposition Is like the clear sky, the bright sun, And he should not hide it from others.
The gentleman's outstanding abilities Are like concealed jewels or gems stored away: He should not easily reveal them.
势利纷华，不近者为洁，近之而不染者为尤洁；智巧机械，不知者为高，知之而不用者为尤高。
Those with power, fame, wealth, and extravagance— By not coming close to them a man stays pure.
Yet the man who can approach and not be affected is the purest of all.
Those who are clever, artful, and full of guile — By not knowing them a man stays high-minded.
Yet the man who can know and still not use them is the most high-minded of all.
耳中常闻逆耳之言，心中常有拂心之事，才是进德修行的砥石。
Our ears forever hear things distasteful to them.
Our mind is forever filled with events contrary to our desires.
But such situations are exactly the whetstones for advancing our virtue, for putting our discipline into practice.
If we always heard words pleasing to our ears, Living this life would be just like being buried alive in poison.
若言言悦耳，事事快心，便把此生埋在鸩毒中矣。
Our ears forever hear things distasteful to them.
Our mind is forever filled with events contrary to our desires.
But such situations are exactly the whetstones for advancing our virtue, for putting our discipline into practice.
If we always heard words pleasing to our ears, Living this life would be just like being buried alive in poison.
怒雨疾风，禽鸟戚戚；光风霁日，草木欣欣。
When winds grow bitter and rains angry, Even small birds are frightened and sad.
When skies become clear and breezes are bright, The grasses and trees are fresh and full of joy.
From this it can be seen that Heaven and Earth are unable to go one day without harmony; The human heart is unable to go one day without joy.
可见天地不可一日无和气，人心不可一日无喜神。
When winds grow bitter and rains angry, Even small birds are frightened and sad.
When skies become clear and breezes are bright, The grasses and trees are fresh and full of joy.
From this it can be seen that Heaven and Earth are unable to go one day without harmony; The human heart is unable to go one day without joy.
醲肥辛甘非真味，真味只是淡；神奇卓异非至人，至人只是常。
Strong wines and fatty meats, sweets and spicy foods— These do not possess true taste.
True taste is only found in the light and simple.
The mysterious and strange, the preeminent and uncommon— These are not the man who has arrived.
The man who has arrived is only the ordinary man.
天地寂然不动，而气机无一息少停；日月昼夜奔驰，而贞明则万古不易。
Heaven and Earth remain peacefully unmoved, Yet their life-breath is unceasing, and seldom rests.
The sun and moon hasten through their courses day and night, Yet their constant light has not changed through the ages.
Thus for the gentleman, It is necessary during times of leisure to keep in mind what is proper for emergencies.
It is necessary during times of haste to retain an element of composure.
故君子闲时要有吃紧的心思，忙处要有悠闲的趣味。
Heaven and Earth remain peacefully unmoved, Yet their life-breath is unceasing, and seldom rests.
The sun and moon hasten through their courses day and night, Yet their constant light has not changed through the ages.
Thus for the gentleman, It is necessary during times of leisure to keep in mind what is proper for emergencies.
It is necessary during times of haste to retain an element of composure.
夜深人静，独坐观心，始觉妄穷而真独露，每于此中得大机趣；既觉真现而妄难逃，又于此中得大惭忸。
Late at night, when others are at rest, Sitting alone, I look deep into my heart: For the first time, distractions cease, and the truth alone becomes manifest, as dew appears at dawn.
At such times I experience a free and responsive mind.
Now the truth is manifested about the past, and I am once again aware of how difficult it is to escape distractions.
At such times I experience mortification and shame.
恩里由来生害，故快意时，须早回头；败后或反成功，故拂心处，莫便放手。
Injury can appear in the midst of kindness.
When happy, keep your wits about you.
The aftermath of failure can be turned into success.
When things don't go the way you want, Do not be quick to give up the ghost.
藜口苋肠者，多冰玉清洁；衮衣玉食者，甘婢膝奴颜。
Of those who make their meals from simple herbs and vegetables, their repasts are as pure as ice, as stainless as gems.
Of those who dress in fancy clothes and feast sumptuously, they lower themselves to acting like servants and slaves.
Ultimately the will is made clear by simplicity, And integrity lost by opulence.
盖志以澹泊明，而节从肥甘丧也。
Of those who make their meals from simple herbs and vegetables, their repasts are as pure as ice, as stainless as gems.
Of those who dress in fancy clothes and feast sumptuously, they lower themselves to acting like servants and slaves.
Ultimately the will is made clear by simplicity, And integrity lost by opulence.
面前的田地要放得宽，使人无不平之叹；身后的惠泽要流得长，使人有不匮之思。
Your attitude while still in the world Should be open and free, saving others from the grief of discontent.
The benefits you leave after you are gone Should flow the length of time, steeping others in feelings of ease.
径路窄处，留一步与人行；滋味浓的，减三分让人嗜。
When walking narrow pathways, Step back a pace, let your companion go ahead.
When eating delicious rich foods, Surrender one-third of your portion for others to enjoy.
This is the law for making your way most comfortably through the world.
此是涉世一极安乐法。
When walking narrow pathways, Step back a pace, let your companion go ahead.
When eating delicious rich foods, Surrender one-third of your portion for others to enjoy.
This is the law for making your way most comfortably through the world.
作人无甚高远事业，摆脱得俗情，便入名流；为学无甚增益工夫，减除得物累，便超圣境。
In becoming a person of merit, though you perform no lofty deeds, If you are able to shake off mundane concerns, You will become one of the renowned.
In pursuing studies, though you make no claim to ingenuity, If you are able to decrease externals that afflict the heart, You will cross over to the land of the sages.
交友须带三分侠气，做人要存一点素心。
Associating with friends, you should show some chivalry.
Laying up merit, you need at least a modicum of the artless.
宠利毋居人前，德业毋落人后；受享毋逾分外，修为毋减分中。
Avoid putting your own blessings and profits before others, But do not fall behind them in moral progress.
When receiving, do not go beyond your share, But when conducting yourself in a course of action, do not do less than you should.
处世让一步为高，退步即进步的张本；待人宽一分是福，利人实利己的根基。
In passing through this world, one is esteemed if he steps back a pace for others to go ahead.
Stepping backward is thus Preliminary to stepping forward.
In serving others, it is felicitous to show a bit of magnanimity.
Benefiting others is truly The foundation of benefiting yourself.