孔子说：「任何事情，必须预先有准备，才会成功；没有准备，往往会失败；上台致词及演讲之前有准备，又或者先练习几遍，到时就不会「口窒」及不畅顺；做事之前先有准备就不会困难重重，行动之前先思考完备，就不会因失败而后悔自责，上路之前先有准备就不会走上绝路。」
Confucius said, “Everything needs to be prepared beforehand in order to be successful. Without preparation, things usually would fail. Have sufficient preparation before a speech, or practice several times beforehand, then the speakers would not be tongue tight and rough. Have sufficient preparation before doing something, then the tasks wouldn”t be full of difficulties. Have sufficient consideration before action, then we would not regret and blame ourselves for failing. Have sufficient preparation before we set out upon our journey, we would not walk into a dead end.
君子依自己所处的位置和角色而行事，不贪慕本位以外的企求；处于富贵，行为就会合乎富贵的身份，做富贵人士本份应该做的事情，处于贫穷，行为就会做合乎贫穷身份的事情。
“Gentlemen would act in accordance with their positions and roles; they would not dream and desire something beyond his standard. When they are in a wealthy and high position, their behavior would meet with their status; they would do whatever the wealthy and respectable people should do. When they are poor, they would do everything that meet with their poor status.”
孔子说：「广博地去学习，例如道德、学问、知识、技能等；细心思考，确切地实践；没有学到绝不罢休，尚未清楚，一定寻根问底，问过明白；认真地去思考，不掌握其中的原理和规律，绝不罢休；没有在实践中去练习和运用，一定要去实践，实行不彻底绝不罢休。别人用一分力气可以完成，我用一百分的气力去做；别人用十分气力可以完成，我用千分的气力去做。如果能够实践这个原则，即使是愚笨的人，也会变得聪明，即使是懦弱的人，也会变得刚强。」
Confucius said, “One should learn all kinds of knowledge extensively, such as: morals, cultures, knowledge, skills…etc.; One should think carefully, and execute it precisely; one will not rest until he learns the knowledge he wants. One will seek to the end and get to the bottom when he does not fully comprehend. He would take serious thoughts, and will not rest before he masters all the principles and rules. If he does not practice and use it, he will put it into practice, and he will not rest before he achieves the goal. If others can complete something with one percent of effort, he will put one hundred percent effort to achieve it. If others can complete something with ten percent of effort, he will put a hundred times more effort than others. If we can truly live up to this principle, even a stupid person can be smart, and even a weak person can be strong.”
「诗经‧卫风‧硕人篇」说：「穿了彩色的锦衣，外面加上一件罩衫。」这是因为厌恶那件锦衣的艳丽。所以，「君子之道」表面是黯淡的，(现代语称为「低调」)，但会一天一天地彰明起来；「小人之道」， 表面是风光的， ( 现代语称为「好高骛远」)，却会一天一天地衰败。
In The Book of Songs, Odes of Wei, the Chapter of The Great Man said, “Wear a big overall to cover the colorful and pricy shirt.” That is because he despises the bright color of that expensive shirt. Therefore, a gentleman”s way is to dim the surface (the modern term is to keep a low profile), but his brightness will manifest eventually; On the other hand, a petty man”s way is to stay shiny on the surface (the modern term would be craving something high and out of reach), but his glossy surface will dim eventually.
《入世第三課 The Third Lesson Of Entering The Secular World》全文阅读结束。