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若談話的時機不適當，就算對適當的人說適當的話，好也變成不好；更罔論是談不適當的話，或是無聊瑣屑的事了。要是談話的對象不適當，就算講的內容適當，也只是「對牛彈琴」；若談話的內容不但不適當，還是與他人聲名休戚相關的，那可是「禍從口出」，後患無窮！所以本章所談的，是基本言談守則，不可掉以輕心。
If we speak at the wrong time, then even if we are talking to the right person and saying the right things, what was originally good be- comes bad. How much worse it would be if we are saying inappropriate things or engaging in idle chatter. If we are not speaking to the right person, then even if what we are saying is appropriate, it is like "strumming the lute to a cow ." If the topic of conversation is improper and affects someone else”s reputation, then it is a case of "bringing on disasters with the mouth"-the consequences will be endless. This section discusses the basic guidelines of conversation, which should not be taken lightly.
總之，人不得閑時，再拿別的事來找他，無異是杠上加擔，這會「失人」；別人不安甯時，再拿別的話來煩他，不啻雪上加霜，這是「失言」。至于談話的內容，總以「長話短說，閑話少說」而爲旨歸，務必隱惡揚善；否則會傷害他人，既失言又失人，甚至惹禍上身，更禍延家國。
In general, to approach a person who is busy with other matters is like adding more weight to the load on his shoulders; that would be a poor way of dealing with people. To disturb someone who is distressed with unnecessary chatter is like "adding frost to snow"-that would be making a mistake in speech. As to the content of what is said, we should make a point of being concise and to the point and of avoiding unnecessary idle talk. We should definitely expose others , good points and not talk about their shortcomings; otherwise, we will certainly hurt others, which would be a double mistake in speech and human relations. We would then be in trouble ourselves, and also cause trouble for our family and our country.
仁者宅心仁厚，不忍傷人煩人，所以通常寡言；智者觀察入微，不會失人失言，所以通常慎言。寡言不會招來是非，慎言不會招來仇怨；能這樣注意自己的口舌，言語方面可能招來的過失和禍患，也就微乎其微了！
Human people are always kind and magnanimous; they cannot bear to hurt or annoy others. Therefore, they usually speak very little. Wise people have a penetrating understanding of things and do not make poor judgments in dealing with people or talking to them; they are always careful in their speech. By speaking little, one avoids gossip. By speaking with caution, one avoids causing resentment. If one is able to watch one”s words in this way, one will hardly make any mistakes or suffer any calamities on account of one”s speech.
孔子說﹕「言寡尤，行寡悔，雖蠻貊之邦行矣！」這就是說﹕能言語忠信，行事笃敬，就可以暢行天下而無阻了！人生在世有什麼比這更自由，更自在的呢？一般人錯解自由，以爲想說什麼就說什麼，愛做什麼就做什麼，這就是自由；不知這種胡言亂語，橫行無忌的假自由，會破壞多少人的自由，也會令自己在禍患後，永遠失去自由。
Confucius said, "When there is little to blame in one”s words and little to regret in one”s actions, one will travel at ease even in barbaric lands!" In other words, if one”s speech is trustworthy and one”s actions are sincere, one will be able to travel freely throughout the world! In this world, what greater freedom is there
Most people have a mistaken idea that freedom means being able to say and do whatever they feel like. By indulging in the false freedom of speaking and acting recklessly, they intrude upon the freedom of countless others and permanently lose their own freedom when the calamitous consequences of their careless behavior befall upon them.
前面幾章說過﹕「話說多，不如少；惟其是，勿佞巧。」《朱子治家格言》裏也告誡我們﹕「人有喜慶，不可生妒忌心；人有禍患，不可生喜幸心。」事不關己，固然沒有必要嚼舌；人縱有過惡，還是多多包涵爲妙。
Some lines in a preceding pas- sage of text said: To talk just a little is better than to chatter non-stop all day long. Talk only about what you”re sure of; don”t use cunning or flowery words. Mr. Chu”s Rules for Managing the Householdwarns us: "When others have cause to rejoice, we must not be jealous. When others suffer disasters, we must not feel glad." If a matter does not concern us, there is no need to comment on it. Even if people have their bad sides, we should try to be tolerant.
《弟子規淺釋 Standards for Students 第六章﹕泛愛衆 Chapter Six: ON CHERISHING ALL LIVING BEINGS - 4》全文閱讀結束。