..續本文上一頁dinary people who want to make progress in cultivating virtue and further our aspirations, we must also "draw near humane ones and distance ourselves from scoundrels." The Analects states, "similar objects tend to gather together"; in other words, "birds of a feather flock together." If we do the deeds of civilized characters, then civil persons will naturally draw near us; when humane characters draw near us, our virtues advance. In contrast, if we do the deeds of scandalous ones, then villains will naturally draw near us; when villains draw near us, then our virtues deteriorate gradually. Therefore, virtuous people always have good teachers, beneficial friends and helpful partners, while unscrupulous scoundrels usually have evil teachers, harmful friends, and sullen seducers.
然則孰是仁者？誰爲小人？這似乎是孔子和學生們最喜歡的議題，在《論語》和《孔子家語》中，其定義比比可見。有一次，顔回又問怎樣是小人？孔子解釋說﹕「專把他人的善行說成壞事，卻自喜是辯才無礙；內心狡詐陰險，還自認是聰明絕頂；見人犯錯，就幸災樂禍；自己不虛心向學，反而動辄笑人無知；這都是標准的小人行徑。」那小人的言論有什麼特質呢？孔子又說﹕「君子以實際行事作爲語言，小人只靠口舌。所以君子會在合乎義理的事情上相互批評砥砺，私底下卻彼此親敬；小人則是在做壞事時相互倚賴合作，私底下卻彼此仇視。」
Who”s considered humane and who”s considered scandalous, how- ever
This appeared to have been one of the favorite debate topics for Confucius and his students. The Confucian Analects and the Words for the Household repeatedly iterated these definitions. For example, once Yan Hill inquired about the definition of a scoundrel. Confucius explained that a crook was "One who purposely depicts others” good deeds as bad, yet merrily considers oneself flawlessly eloquent. A scoundrel is calculating and endangering, yet one considers himself exceptionally intelligent. One sees others make mistakes and delights in the disaster. One doesn”t try to learn humbly but actually laughs at others” ignorance. These are some of the typical habits of a scoundrel." Then what are the outstanding qualities of a civil being
Confucius answered, "The civil one uses action as his language whereas the scoundrel relies only on words. Thus, civil persons will mutually criticize and compare according to reason and pertinence of the issue. Privately they value and respect each other. On the other hand, scoundrels cooperate and depend on one another while committing crime. Privately they treat each other like enemies."
總之，君子小人最大的不同，在于「君子喻于義；小人喻于利」，也就是說一個胸懷公開正直，以義自守；一個居心狹隘自私，唯利是圖。所以君子會面，無不谘诹勸善；小人碰頭，總是狼狽爲奸。因此，我們雖說衆生平等，要「泛愛衆」；卻是要善惡明了，以「親仁」爲依歸。泛愛衆本是心存等慈，是其原則；親仁則是行事合宜，是個權便。存心當仁，行事須智；仁心智行，就足以頂天立地，通達四海了。
In summary, the biggest difference between civilized humanitarians and scoundrels is that "Civil ones are acclimatized to justice while uncivil ones are acclimatized to self-interest." In other words, one maintains an open and straightforward heart, safeguarding integrity while the other dwells selfishly in narrow-mindedness, caring only for one”s benefits. When gentlemen gather, for instance, they always consult one another and encourage each other to be good. When rascals meet up, however, they always collaborate to do evil. Thus, although we speak of equality among living beings and "love of all beings," we should be clear about good and evil, using "drawing near humaneness" as an anchor. The principle of loving living beings is basically the principle of maintaining equitable kindness; to draw near civility is an expedient act that concurs with principle. If you intend to be a humanitarian, you must conduct yourself wisely. A humane heart and wise conduct are sufficient to prop up heaven and earth and enter the brilliance of the four seas.
《弟子規淺釋 Standards for Students 第七章﹕親仁 Chapter Seven ：ON DRAWING NEAR TO THE HUMANE - 2》全文閱讀結束。