Page 183 - 《中庸》中·英对照版

第
二
十
章

will be inexhaustible.
When those in inferior situations do not obtain

the confidence of the sovereign, they cannot succeed
in governing the people. There is a way to obtain the
confidence of the sovereign; — if one is not trusted
by his friends, he will not get the confidence of his
sovereign. There is a way to being trusted by one’s
friends; — if one is not obedient to his parents, he
will not be true to friends. There is a way to being
obedient to one’s parents; — if one, on turning his
thoughts in upon himself, finds a want of sincerity,
he will not be obedient to his parents. There is a
way to the attainment of sincerity in one’s self; — if
a man do not understand what is good, he will not
attain sincerity in himself.

Sincerity is the way of Heaven. The attainment
of sincerity is the way of men. He who possesses
sincerity, is he who, without an effort, hits what
is right, and apprehends, without the exercise

163