劝学英文翻译.doc

劝学英文翻译 荀子Hsun-TzuTranslated by Burton Watson劝学篇第一 ENCOURAGING, LEARNING (SECTION 1) 君子曰：学不可以已。青、取之於蓝，而青於蓝；冰、水为之，而寒於水。木直中绳，輮以为轮，其曲中规，虽有槁暴，不复挺者，輮使之然也。故木受绳则直，金就砺则利，君子博学而日参省乎己，则知明而行无过矣。The gentleman says: Learning should never cease. Blue comes from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself. Ice is made of water but is colder than water ever is…. If the gentleman studies widely and each day examines himself, his wisdom will become clear and his conduct be without fault. 故不登高山，不知天之高也；不临深溪，不知地之厚也；不闻先王之遗言，不知学问之大也。干、越、夷、貉之子，生而同声，长而异俗，教使之然也。诗曰：「嗟尔君子，无恒安息。靖共尔位，好是正直。神之听之，介尔景福。」神莫大於化道，福莫长於无祸。If you do not climb a high mountain, you will not comprehend the highness of the heavens; if you do not look down into a deep valley, you will not know the depth of the earth; and if you do not hear the words handed down from the ancient kings, you will not understand the greatness of learning. Children born among the Han or Yüeh people of the south and among the Mo barbarians of the north cry with the same voice at birth, but as they grow older they follow different customs. Education causes them to differ. The Odes says:Oh, you gentlemen,Do not be constantly at ease and rest!Quietly respectful in your posts,Love those who are correct and uprightAnd the gods will hearken to youAnd aid you with great blessing.1There is no greater godliness2 than to transform yourself with the Way, no greater blessing than to escape misfortune. 吾尝终日而思矣，不如须臾之所学也。吾尝跂而望矣，不如登高之博见也。登高而招，臂非加长也，而见者远；顺风而呼，声非加疾也，而闻者彰。假舆马者，非利足也，而致千里；假舟楫者，非能水也，而绝江河。君子生非异也，善假於物也。I once tried spending the whole day in thought, but I found it of less value than a moment of study.3 I once tried standing on tiptoe and gazing into the distance, but I found I could see much farther by climbing to a high place. If you climb to a high place and wave to someone, it is not as though your arm were any longer than usual, and yet people can see. you from much farther away. If you shout down the wind, it is not as though your voice were any