Page 300 - 《中庸》中·英对照版
P. 300

?中
 庸

“上天之载,无声无臭[12]。”至矣!

      It is said in the Book of Poetry, “Over her
embroidered robe she puts a plain single garment,”
intimating a dislike to the display of the elegance
of the former. Just so, it is the way of the superior
man to prefer the concealment of his virtue, while
it daily becomes more illustrious, and it is the way
of the mean man to seek notoriety, while he daily
goes more and more to ruin. It is characteristic of
the superior man, appearing insipid, yet never to
produce satiety; while showing a simple negligence,
yet to have his accomplishments recognized; while
seemingly plain, yet to be discriminating. He knows
how what is distant lies in what is near. He knows
where the wind proceeds from. He knows how what
is minute becomes manifested. Such a one, we may
be sure, will enter into virtue.

      It is said in the Book of Poetry, “Although the

280
   295   296   297   298   299   300   301   302   303   304   305