..續本文上一頁ai Yu."
這意思是說，不要廢了俚俗的教訓。看馬好不好，要真正讓馬駕一駕車才知；看一個讀書人，也是要考察他平日起居生活。因爲如果光看外表，對子羽就會看走了眼；若只相信言論，就會把宰予給高估了。其結果都可能會因爲無法因才適任，而犧牲了對方，也折損了自己。所以看人不能從他外在的言行，武斷地下第一印象。事實上，像宰予這樣聰明有才華，卻又志大行疏的，或者像子羽這樣其貌不揚，卻沈潛有才的人，在我們的周圍並不是沒有，只不過我們很容易犯以貌取人，以言斷人的毛病，而錯失了人才或高估了人才。
His meaning was that we should not overlook the advice of that proverb. Before we can determine the caliber of a horse, we have to see how it pulls a chariot. In appraising a scholar, we have to look at his daily living habits. If we only consider a person”s appearance, we will be prejudiced against Zi Yu. If we only believed a person”s words, we will overestimate Zai Yu. It is then very likely that, because we are unable to employ a person according to his talents, we will lose the person and take a loss ourselves! Therefore, we cannot evaluate a person based on the first impression that we get from his external words and behavior . Actually, people like Zai Yu, who was intelligent and talented, yet overambitious and careless in behavior, and like Zi Yu, who had great ability hidden beneath a plain exterior, are around us, too. It is just that we easily make the mistake of judging people by their appearance or by their words, thereby failing to appreciate people”s talents or else overestimating them.
再從另一個角度來說，如果我們貌不驚人，就應該自內在修養鍛煉起，治世時能大行于邦國，亂世時也能自保于鄉隱。如果我們幸而長得一表人才，更要充實自己，不要做個繡花枕頭，中看不中用，或者一昧逞口舌，而招忌惹禍。這才是中庸之道！
Looking at it from another angle, if our own looks are plain, we should start by working on our inner cultivation, so that in times of peace we can come out to serve the country well, and in times of chaos we can retreat into seclusion in the countryside. If we are blessed with the appearance of being very capable, we should also increase our inner virtue, and not be like an embroidered pillow that is pretty to look at but not much use. We should also avoid letting our tongues wag carelessly and bring disasters upon ourselves. This is the Middle Way.
古今中外的英雄豪傑，在他們的日常小事裏頭，都可以看出他們仁慈、謙虛的一面。仁慈、謙虛，便是得人心的基礎；滿腹經世濟用之學，其實都只是教我們如何得人心、善用人心罷了！英雄豪傑之成功，因爲得人心；其失敗，也是因爲失去了人心。人心所看重和敬畏的，是真實的德行，而非璀燦的言辭，堂皇的外表，或厚重的權勢。
If you look at great men and women of the past and present, around the world, you will see the benevolence and humility with which they go about their daily activities. Benevolence and humility are the foundation of the human spirit. All the theories of government and politics boil down to teaching us how to win people”s hearts and skillfully guide them. Great leaders and heroes succeed because they are able to win people”s hearts. Those who fail, fail because they lose people”s hearts. What people value and respect is the practice of genuine virtue, not flowery words, handsome appearance, or great power .
亞曆山大是希臘一位英明的皇帝。有一次他到南部一個城市，城裏的大小官員和地方上有名望的人都去朝見他，只有大哲學家德奧基尼斯沒去，亞曆山大便親自去拜望他。亞曆山大來到德奧基尼斯住所前，看到他正坐在那兒曬太陽，便上前一鞠躬，禮貌地表達久仰，並問﹕「您有什麼需要我幫忙的事情嗎？」德奧基尼斯說﹕「是的！我只要求您站開些，別把太陽擋住就行了！」亞曆山大覺得很有趣，一點也沒生氣就走了。
Alexander the Great was a wise king of Greece. One time he visited a city in the south. All the great and minor government officials and all the local men of repute gathered to greet him. Only the great philosopher Diogenes did not go. Thereupon Alexander the Great personally went to pay respects to him. When he arrived at Diogenes” dwelling, he saw him sitting there, basking in the sun. He went up and made a half bow, said that he had long admired the philosopher, and asked, "Is there any matter in which I can offer my help
" Diogenes said, "Yes. All I ask is that you move to the side a bit so that you don”t block the sun!" Alexander was amused and left without feeling the least bit upset.
美國開國領袖華盛頓當上大總統之後，有一回他穿著便服騎馬出去玩，經過河邊時看見一個軍官，指揮兩個士兵把一段大木頭擡上河堤。可是河堤很高，木頭又重，兩個兵用盡了力氣還是擡不上來。那軍官一徑吼叫﹕「用力！用力！」卻不去幫忙；華盛頓就說﹕「他們力氣已用完了，你去幫幫忙吧！」那軍官瞪眼大聲道﹕「我是尉官，你知道嗎？」華盛頓就說﹕「對不起！我不知道；我若早知道你是尉官，就不冒犯你了！」說完，就脫下外衣跳下去幫那兩個兵把大木頭擡上岸。
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