宁廉洁正直以自清乎，将突梯滑稽，如脂如韦，以洁楹乎？
宁昂昂若千里之驹乎，将泛泛若水中之凫，与波上下，偷以全吾躯乎？
"I'm bewilder'd whether honest and fair And unaffected by th' vile I should stay, Or gagging and jesting in a way slick And sly, should I circumspectly safe play?" "Ought I to cherish lofty ambitions And plunge ahead like a wing'd steed with pride, Or to imitate the wild duck, which floats With the waves and drifts along with the tide?"
宁与骐驥亢轭乎，将随驽马之迹乎？
宁与黄鹄比翼乎，将与鸡鹜争食乎？
此孰吉孰凶？
何去何从？
"To keep abreast with the galloping steeds, Or to follow in th' crippl'd horse's wake? To soar high in th' sky like a yellow swan, Or to share with th' picking hen the same make?" Of th' alternatives which is auspicious And which ominous? What course must I take?
世湮浊而不清：蝉翼为重，千钧为轻；黄钟毁弃，瓦釜雷鸣；谗人高张，贤士无名。
吁嗟默默兮，谁知吾之廉贞！
”
詹尹乃释策而谢曰：“夫尺有所短，寸有所长；物有所不足，智有所不明；数有所不逮，神有所不通。
用君之心，行君之意。
龟策诚不能知此事。
”
"In a world that has lost its sight, Weighty th' cicada's wing is thought, Whereas a hundredweight is light; Th' bronze bells to destruction are brought, While earthen pots like thunder boom; High positions the crook'd have got, And th' wise are left in th' wretched gloom. Oh, enough! What's th' use to complain? Ere th' obscur'd virtuous woes loom!" "Sometimes a foot may lack the strength," Putting down his herb Zheng does say: "While an inch is just fit in length, Things have their flaws, and the wise may Sometimes prove to be dim in sight. Divining may not all reveal; All oracles not be applied. Just do whatever you think right, And act in light of your ideal: Th' issues I can't for you decide."