1. 凡事豫則立,不豫則廢。(中庸)
In all things, success lies in previous preparations and there will be failure without previous preparations. (The Doctrine of the Mean)
2. 玉不琢不成器,人不學不知道。(禮記)
Spare the rod and spoil the child. (The Book of Rites)
3. 物以類聚,人以群分。(易經)
Birds of a feather flock together. (The Book of Changes)
4. 為山九仞,功虧一簣。(尚書)
Between the cup and the lip a morsel may slip. (The Book of History)
5. 大道之行,天下為公。(禮記)
A public spirit will rule all under the sky when the great way prevails. (The Book of Rites)
6. 天時不如地利,地利不如人和。(孟子)
The time isn't as important as the terrain; but the terrain isn't as important as unity with the people. (The Works of Mencius)
7. 知恥近乎勇。(禮記)
To possess the feeling of shame is akin to courage. (The Book of Rites)
8. 文武之道,一張一弛。(禮記)
Labor and leisure should both be emphasized. (The Book of Rites)
9. 禮尚往來,來而不往非禮也。(禮記)
Propriety suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give out but to receive. (The Book of Rites)
10. 口惠而實不至,怨災及其身。(禮記)
Good words without deeds are a bane for us. (The Book of Rites)
11. 君子以文會友,以友輔仁。(論語)
A gentleman makes friends through his literary development and cultivation and he promotes compassion and benevolence through making friends. (The Confucian Analects)
12. 君子坦蕩蕩,小人常慼慼。(論語)
The superior man is always calm and at ease, the small man is always fretting. (The Confucian Analects)
13. 以直報怨,以德報德。(孔子)
Requite resentment with justice; requite kindness with kindness. (The Works of Confucius)
14. 君子求諸己,小人求諸人。(孔子)
A superior man makes demands upon himself; a small man makes demands upon others. (The Works of Confucius)
15. 巧言亂德,小不忍則亂大謀。(孔子)
Sweet words corrupt a man's virtue. Lack of forbearance in small matters spoils great plans. (The Works of Confucius)
16. 道不同,不相為謀。(孔子)
Deviations on styles separate us, contradictions of thoughts defriend us. (The Works of Confucius)
17. 不義而富且貴,於我如浮雲。(孔子)
The riches and honors acquired by unrighteousness are to me as a floating cloud. (The Works of Confucius)
18. 自古皆有死,民無信不立。(孔子)
The country will collapse if the people have not trust in it. (The Works of Confucius)
19. 愛之慾其生,惡之慾其死。(孔子)
Wish a long life unto one's beloved and an instant death unto one's foe. (The Works of Confucius)
20. 名不正,則言不順,言不順,則事不成。(孔子)
If terminology is not corrected, then what is said cannot be followed. If what is said cannot be followed, then work cannot be accomplished. (The Works of Confucius)
21. 其身正,不令而行;其身不正,雖令不從。(孔子)
When a ruler's personal conduct is correct, his government is effective without giving orders. If his personal conduct is not correct,even he may give orders, but they will not be followed. (The Works of Confucius)
22. 君子恥其言而過其行。(孔子)
A man of honor believes it is a disgrace to say more and do less. (The Works of Confucius)
23. 不患人之不己知,患不知人也。(孔子)
Don't worry about being misunderstood but about understanding others. (The Works of Confucius)
24. 見賢思齊,見不賢而內自省。(孔子)
When we see a man of virtue and talent, we should think of equalling them; when we see a man of a contrary character, we should turn inwards and examine ourselves. (The Works of Confucius)
25. 見義不為,無勇也。(孔子)
It is cowardice to see what is right and not to do it. (The Works of Confucius)
26. 士可殺不可辱。(孔子)
A scholar prefers death to humiliation. (The Works of Confucius)
27. 道聽而途說,德之棄也。(孔子)
To spread what you have heard on the way, is to abandon virtue. (The Works of Confucius)
28. 博學而篤志,切問而近思,仁在其中矣。(孔子)
He who studies widely and with a firm aim, who inquires with earnestness, and teflects with self application comes to virtue. (The Works of Confucius)
29. 過而不改,是為過矣。(孔子)
To have faults and not to correct them, this indeed is to have faults. (The Works of Confucius)
30. 眾惡之,必察焉;眾好之,必察焉。(孔子)
Be sure to look into the case if a man is disliked by all the people around him. Be sure, too, to look into the case if he is liked by all the people around him. (The Works of Confucius)
31. 君子有三畏:畏天命,畏大人,畏聖人之言。(孔子)
There are three things of which a superior man is in awe. He is in awe of the will of Heaven. He is in awe of great men. He is in awe of the words of sages. (The Works of Confucius)
32. 人無遠慮,必有近憂。(孔子)
A man without foresight will have immediate worries. (The Works of Confucius)
33. 歲寒,然後知松柏之後凋也。(孔子)
Only in cold winter does one know that the pine and the cypress are the last to shed their leaves. (The Works of Confucius)
34. 敏於事而慎於言。(孔子)
The gentlemen are speedy as a worker and cautious as a speaker. (The Works of Confucius)
35. 不以言舉人,不以人廢言。(論語)
Superior man dose not promote a man simply for his words; nor dose he reject his good words because of the man. (The Confucian Analects)
36. 己所不欲,勿施於人。(論語)
Don't do to others what you don't want others to do to you. (The Confucian Analects)
37. 君子愛財,取之有道。(論語)
A high-minded man accumulates wealth by fair means. (The Confucian Analects)
38. 聽其言,觀其行。(論語)
listen to what a person says and watch he does. (The Confucian Analects)
39. 與朋友交,言而有信。(論語)
One should honor commitment made to friends. (The Confucian Analects)
40. 吾日三省吾身。(曾子)
Self-introspection should be practiced on a daily basis. (The Works of Zengzi)
41. 貧而無怨,富而不驕。(論語)
Deficient and without complain, rich and not arrogant. (The Confucian Analects)
42. 君子之德風,小人之德草,草上之風,必偃。(孔子)
The superiors' virtue is the wind; the inferiors' virtue is grass. Wherever the wind blows, grass bends. (The Works of Confucius)
43. 君子成人之美,不成人之惡,小人反是。(孔子)
The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil .The flunky goes the opposite. (The Works of Confucius)
44. 篤信好學,守死善道。(孔子)
Stick to the truth you believe, broaden your knowledge about it, and be ready to die for its realization. (The Works of Confucius)
45. 鳥之將死,其鳴也哀;人之將死,其言也善。(孔子)
Birds cry plaintively before they die; men speak kindly in the presence of death. (The Works of Confucius)
46. 士不可以不弘毅,任重而道遠。(論語)
An educated gentleman cannot but be resolute and broad-minded, for he has taken up a heavy responsibility and a long course. (The Confucian Analects)
47. 擇其善者從之,其不善者而改之。(孔子)
Select one's good qualities and follow them and get rid of their bad ones. (The Works of Confucius)
48. 知者不惑,仁者不憂,勇者不懼。(論語)
The wise is free from doubts; the virtuous is free from anxieties; the bold is free from fear. (The Confucian Analects)
49. 人皆可以為堯舜。(孟子)
Everyone can be as Yao and Shun. (The Works of Mencius)
50. 得道多助,失道寡助。(孟子)
A just cause enjoys abundant support while an unjust cause finds little. (The Works of Mencius)
1. 天時不如地利,地利不如人和。(孟子)
The time isn't as important as the terrain; but the terrain isn't as important as unity with the people. (The Works of Mencius)
2. 富貴不能淫,貧賤不能移,威武不能屈。(孟子)
Neither riches nor honors can corrupt him; neither poverty nor humbleness can make him swerve from principle; and neither threats nor forces can subdue him. These characteristics constitute the great man. (The Works of Mencius)
3. 人之患在好為人師。(孟子)
The fault of people is liking to be the teacher of others. (The Works of Mencius)
4. 生於憂患,死於安樂。(孟子)
Born in adversity, died in peace. (The Works of Mencius)
5. 老吾老以及人之老,幼吾幼以及人之幼。(孟子)
Expend the respect of the aged in one's family to that of other families; expend the love of the young ones in one's family to that of other families. (The Works of Mencius)
6. 窮則獨善其身,達則兼濟天下。(孟子)
Maintain your battling spirit at times of hardship; spread your words when success strolls. (The Works of Mencius)
7. 天將降大任於斯人也,必先苦其心志,勞其筋骨,餓其體膚,空乏其身,行拂亂其所為,所以動心忍性,曾益其所不能。(孟子)
When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a great man, it always first frustrates his spirit and will, exhausts his muscles and bones, exposes him to starvation and poverty, harasses him by troubles and setbacks so as to stimulate his spirit, toughen his nature and enhance his abilities. (The Works of Mencius)
8. 君子之交淡如水,小人之交甘若醴。君子淡以親,小人甘以絕。(莊子)
The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the friendship between men without virtue is sweet like wine, yet easily broken. (The Works of Chuang Tzu)
9. 知人者智,自知者明。(老子)
Who understands the world is learned; who understands himself is enlightened. (The Works of Lao Tzu)
10. 流言止於智者。(荀子)
Rumors find no credence with a wise man. (The Works of Xun Zi)
11. 合抱之木,生於毫末;九層之臺,起於累土;千里之行,始於足下。(老子)
A huge tree that fills one's arms grows from a tiny seedling; a nine-storied tower rises from a heap of earth; a thousand li journey starts with the first step. (The Works of Lao Tzu)
12. 流水不腐,戶樞不蠹。(呂氏春秋)
A rolling stone gathers no moss. (The History of Lv)
13. 居安思危,思則有備,有備無患。(左傳)
Be prepared for danger in times of peace; to think so can lead to preparation and preparation averts calamities. (The Chronicle of Zuo)
14. 青出於藍而勝於藍。(荀子)
Blue is extracted from the indigo plant but is bluer than it. (The Works of Xun Zi)
15. 天生我材料必有用。(李白)
Heaven has endowed me with talents for eventual use. (Li Bai)
16. 天行健,君子以自強不息。(易經)
As Heaven's movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive along. (The Book of Changes)
17. 溫故而知新,可以為師矣。(論語)
He who by reviewing the old can gain knowledge of the new and is fit to be a teacher. (The Confucian Analects)
18. 千丈之堤,以螻蟻之穴潰;百尺之室,以突隙之煙焚。(韓非子)
A long dike will collapse because of an ant-hole in it; a tall building will be burned down by a spark from a chimney's chink. (The Works of Han Feizi)
19. 鍥而舍之,朽木不折,鍥而不捨,金石可鏤。(荀子)
Carve but give up half way, even a decayed piece of wood will not break; carve without stop, even metal and stone can be engraved. (The Works of Xun Zi)
20. 人之於文學也,猶玉之於琢磨也。(荀子)
Learning and culture are to a person what polished and grinding are to jade. (The Works of Xun Zi)
21. 路漫漫其修遠兮,吾將上下而求索。(屈原)
The way ahead is long; I see no ending, yet high and low I'll search with my will unbending. (Qu Yuan)
22. 民為貴,社稷次之,君為輕。(孟子)
The people are the most important element in a state; next are the gods of land and grain; least is the ruler himself. (The Works of Mencius)
23. 君子獨立不慚於影,獨寢不慚於魂。(晏子)
A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone. (The Works of Yan Zi)
24. 海內存知己,天涯若比鄰。(王勃)
A bosom friend afar brings distance near. (Wang Bo)
25. 禍兮,福之所依;福兮,禍之所伏。(老子)
Misfortune, that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies. (The Works of Lao Tzu)
26. 但願人長久,千里共蟬娟。(蘇軾)
We wish each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart. (Su Shi)
27. 獨在異鄉為異客,每逢佳節倍思親。(王維)
A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive day. (Wang Wei)
28. 大江東去,浪淘盡,千古風流人物。(蘇軾)
The endless river eastward flows; with its huge waves are gone all those gallant heroes of bygone years. (Su Shi)
29. 二人同心,其利斷金。(易經)
If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal. (The Book of Changes)
30. 富貴不能淫,貧賤不能移,威武不能屈。(孟子)
It is a true great man whom no money and rank can confuse, no poverty and hardship can shake, and no power and force can suffocate. (The Works of Mencius)
31. 物格而後知至,知至而後意誠,意誠而後心正,心正而後身修,身修而後家齊,家齊而後治國,國治而後天下平。(大學)Things investigated, genuine knowledge acquired; genuine knowledge acquired ,thoughts purified; thoughts purified, hearts rectified; hearts rectified, personalities cultivated; personalities cultivated, families regulated; families regulated, the states well governed; the states well governed, the whole world will be in peace and tranquil. (The Great Learning)
32. 士之為人,當理不避其難,臨患忘利,遺生行義,視死如歸.(呂氏春秋)A moral intellectual is one who escapes no danger in face of truth, discards personal interests in front of disaster, practices righteousness at the expense of life, and looks upon death as going home. (The History of Lv)
33. 逝者如斯夫,不捨晝夜。(論語)
The passage of time is just like the flow of water, which goes on day and night. (The Book of Changes)
34. 順天者存,逆天者亡。(孟子)Those who follow the Heaven's law will survive; those who go against it will perish. (The Works of Mencius)
35. 人有悲歡離合,月有陰晴陽缺,此事古難全。(蘇軾)People have sorrow and joy; they part and meet again. The moon dims or shines; it waxes or wanes. Nothing is perfect, not even in the olden days. (Su Shi)
36. 謀事在人,成事在天。(羅貫中)
Man proposes, God disposes. (Luo Guanzhong)
37. 不畏浮雲遮望眼,只緣身在最高層。(王安石)
We have no fear on the clouds that may block our sights as we are already at the top of the height. (Wang Anshi)
38. 入則懇懇以盡忠,出則謙謙以自悔。(張養浩)
When one is in office he should discharge his duty conscientiously; when leaving office he should conduct himself with humanity and exercise self-reflection. (Zhang Yanghao)
39. 苟利國家生死以,豈因禍福避趨之。(林則徐)
I shall dedicate myself to the interests of the country in life and death irrespective of personal will and world. (Lin Zexu)
40. 亦餘心之所向兮,雖九死其尤未悔。(屈原)
For the ideal that I hold dear to my heart, I'd not regret at thousand times to die. (Qu Yuan)
41. 長風破浪會有時,直掛雲帆濟滄海。(李白)
A time will come to ride the wind and cleave the waves; I'll set my cloud-white sail and cross the sea which raves. (Li Bai)
42. 春蠶到死絲方盡,蠟炬成灰淚始幹。(李商隱)
Till the end of life a silk worm keeps spinning silk; till burning itself out a candle goes on lighting us. (Li Shangyin)
43. 誰言寸草心,報得三春暉。(孟郊)
Never enough is the gratitude of grass for the grace of the spring sun. (Meng Jiao)
44. 盡信書則不如無書。 (孟子)
We would rather be short of books than believe all that they say. (The Works of Mencius)
45. 有教無類。(論語)
Education should be for all, irrespective of their social status. (The Book of Changes)
46. 發憤忘食,樂以忘,不知老之將至。(論語)
So diligent and occupied am I in learning as to forget meals, and so great a rejoicing have I attained in it as to forget all worries and sorrows. In such a mood, I even forget I am getting old. (The Book of Changes)
47. 君子之言寡而實,小人之言多而虛。(說苑)
A superior man talks little but it is the truth; whereas an inferior man talks much, but it is false. (Garden of Anecdotes)
48. 士不以利移,不為患改。(說苑)
A superior man never changes his mind for profits nor wavers in the face of perils. (Garden of Anecdotes)
49. 水至清則無魚,人至察則無徒。(漢書) No fish can survive if the water is too clean. For the same reason, no company can bear one whose requirements are too critical. (The History of the Han Dynasty)
50. 欲人勿聞,莫若勿言;欲人勿知,莫若勿為。(漢書)If you do not want to be heard, you'd better keep silent; if you do not want your actions to be seen, you'd better not start. (The History of the Han Dynasty)
(感謝程超老師的翻譯,不足之處請大家指正。)