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An outward demeanour, cautious and grave, |
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Is an indication of the [inward] virtue. |
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People have the saying, |
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'There is no wise man who is not [also] stupid. ' |
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The stupidity of the ordinary man, |
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Is determined by his [natural] defects. |
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The stupidity of the wise man, |
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What is most powerful is the being the man; -- |
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In all quarters [of the State] men are influenced by it. |
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To an upright virtuous conduct, |
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All in the four quarters of the State render obedient homage. |
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With great counsels and determinate orders, |
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With far-reaching plans and timely announcements, |
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And with reverent care of his outward demeanour, |
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One will become the pattern of the people. |
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Is from his doing violence [to his natural character]. |
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As for the circumstances of the present time, |
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You are bent on error and confusion in your government. |
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Your virtue is subverted; |
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You are besotted by drink. |
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Although you thus pursue nothing but pleasure, |
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How is it you do not think of your relation to the past, |
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And do not widely study the former kings, |
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That you might hold fast their wise laws? |
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Shall not those whom great Heaven does not approve of, |
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Surely as the waters flow from a spring, |
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Sink down together to ruin? |
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Rise early and go to bed late, |
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Sprinkle and sweep your court-yard; -- |
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So as to be a pattern to the people. |
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Have in good order your chariots and horses, |
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Your bows and arrows, and [other] weapons of war; -- |
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To be prepared for warlike action, |
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To keep at a distance [the hordes of] the South. |
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Perfect what concerns your officers and people; |
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Be careful of your duties as a prince [of the kingdom]; -- |
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To be prepared for unforeseen dangers. |
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Be cautious of what you say; |
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Be reverently careful of your outward demeanour; |
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In all things be mild and correct. |
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A flaw in a mace of white jade, |
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May be ground away, |
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But for a flaw in speech, |
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Nothing can be done. |
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Do not speak lightly; -- your words are your own: -- |
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Do not say, ' This is of little importance. ' |
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No one can hold my tongue for me; |
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Words are not to be cast away. |
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Every word finds its answer; |
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Every good deed has its recompense. |
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If you are gracious among your friends, |
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And to the people, as if they were your children, |
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Your descendants will continue in unbroken line, |
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And all the people will surely be obedient to you. |
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Looked at in friendly intercourse with superior men, |
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You make your countenance harmonious and mild; -- |
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Anxious not to do anything wrong. |
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Looked at in your chamber, |
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You ought to be equally free from shame before the light which shines in. |
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Do not say, ' This place is not public; |
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No one can see me here. ' |
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The approaches of spiritual Beings, |
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Cannot be calculated [beforehand]; |
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But the more should they not be slighted. |
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O prince, let your practice of virtue, |
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Be entirely good and admirable. |
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Watch well over your behaviour, |
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And allow nothing wrong in your demeanour. |
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Committing no excess, doing nothing injurious; -- |
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There are few who will not in such a case take you for their pattern. |
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When one throws to me a peach, |
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I return to him a plum. |
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To look for horns on a young ram, |
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Will only weary you, my son. |
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The soft and elastic wood, |
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Can be fitted with the silken string. |
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The mild and the respectful man, |
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Possesses the foundation of virtue. |
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There is a wise man; -- |
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I tell him [good] words, |
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And he yields to them the practice of docile virtue. |
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There is a stupid man; -- |
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He says on the contrary that my words are not true: -- |
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So different are people's minds. |
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Oh! my son, |
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When you did not know what was good, and what was not good, |
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Not [only] did I lead you on by the hand, |
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But I showed the difference by appealing to affairs. |
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Not [only] did I charge you face to face, |
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But I held you by the ears. |
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And still perhaps you do not know, |
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Although you have held a son in your arms. |
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If people are not self-sufficient, |
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Who comes [only] to a late maturity after early instruction? |
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Great Heaven is very intelligent, |
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And I pass my life without pleasure. |
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When I see you so dark and stupid, |
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My heart is full of pain. |
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I taught you with assiduous repetition, |
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And you listened to me with contempt. |
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You would nto consider me your teacher, |
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But regarded me as troublesome. |
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Still perhaps you do not know; -- |
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But you are very old. |
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Oh! my son, |
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I have told you the old ways. |
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Hear and follow my counsels; -- |
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Then shall you have no cause for great regret. |
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Heaven is now inflicting calamities, |
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And is destroying the State. |
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My illustrations are not taken from things remote; -- |
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Great Heaven makes no mistakes. |
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If you go on to deteriorate in your virtue, |
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You will bring the people to great distress. |