《礼记》--敖不可长
【原文】
敖不可长②，欲不可从③，志不可满，乐不可极(4)。
贤者狎而敬之(5)，畏而爱之。爱而知其恶，憎而知其善。积而能散，安安而能迁迁(6)。临财毋苟得(7)，临难毋苟免。很毋求胜(8)，分毋求多。疑事毋质(9),直而勿有(10)。
Pride should not be allowed to grow; the desires
should not be indulged; the will should not be gratified to the
full; pleasure should not be carried to excess.
Men of talents and virtue can be familiar with
others and yet respect them; can stand in awe of others and yet
love them. They love others and yet acknowledge the evil that is in
them. They accumulate (wealth) and yet are able to part with it (to
help the needy); they rest in what gives them satisfaction and yet
can seek satisfaction elsewhere (when it is desirable to do so).
When you find wealth within your reach, do not (try to) get it by
improper means; when you meet with calamity, do not (try to) escape
from it by improper means. Do not seek for victory in small
contentions; do not seek for more than your proper share. Do not
positively affirm what you have doubts about; and (when you have no
doubts), do not let what you say appear (simply) as your own
view.
英文翻译：理雅各（James Legge）
【注释】
①本节选自《曲礼》上。《曲礼》记录了先秦儒家关于各种礼仪制度的言论，目的在于继承和发扬礼教，使人们的言行符合礼教的规范。这一节的内容主要讲做人和治学的态度。②敖：同“傲”，傲慢。③从：同“纵”，放纵。④极：达到顶点。⑤狎（xia）：亲近。（6）安安：满足于平安的境遇。迁：改变。(7)临：遇上，面对。苟：苟且。(8)很：争论，争执。(9)质：判定，证明。(10)直：明白。
【译文】
傲慢不可滋长，欲望不可放纵，志向不可自满。享乐不可达到极点。对于贤能的人要亲近并敬重，要敬畏并爱戴。对于所爱的人要了解他的恶德，对于憎恨的人要看到他的优点。能积聚财富，但又能分派济贫；能适应平安稳定，又能适应变化不定。遇到财物不要随便获得，遇到危难不应苟且逃避。争执不要求胜，分派不要求多。不懂的事不要下断语，已明白的事不要自夸知道。
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