When a man sees something desirable, he must reflect on the fact that with time it could come to involve what is detestable. When he sees something that is beneficial, he should reflect that sooner or later it, too, could come to involve harm.

  • -- Xunzi 荀子

当一个人看到他想要的东西时,他必须思考这样一个事实:随着时间的推移,它可能涉及到可憎的东西。当他看到有益的事情时,他应该意识到迟早它也会带来危害。

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We all have a natural instinct to protect children from harm. It's never fun to see a child hurt, even if it's just a scraped knee. But on the other hand, children need to take on physical challenges to learn and grow, and scraped knees and other bumps and bruises teach them valuable lessons about their own limits.

我们都有保护儿童免受伤害的自然本能。看到孩子受伤从来都不是一件有趣的事,即使只是擦伤了膝盖。但另一方面,孩子们需要接受身体上的挑战来学习和成长,擦伤膝盖和其他磕碰和瘀伤教会了他们关于自身极限的宝贵经验。

There is no harm in patience, and no profit in lamentation. Death is easier to bear (than) that which precedes it, and more severe than that which comes after it. Remember the death of the Apostle of God, and your sorrow will be lessened.

忍耐没有害处,哀恸没有益处。死比死前的更容易忍受,比死后的更可怕。当记念神使徒的死,你的愁苦就必减少。

Although it had sounded at the time like a useful bit of intelligence, the only problem was that I didn't know where the Casanovas were located. I'd have to think of something else.

虽然这在当时听起来像是有用的情报,但唯一的问题是我不知道卡萨诺瓦在哪里。我得想点别的。

I would sooner read a time-table or a catalogue than nothing at all. They are much more entertaining than half the novels that are written.

我宁愿看时刻表或目录,也不愿什么也不看。它们比一半的小说更有趣。

When you locate good in yourself, approve of it with determination. When you locate evil in yourself, despise it as something detestable.

当你发现自己的优点时,要坚定地赞同它。当你发现自己有邪恶时,把它当作可憎的东西来鄙视。

We may sooner be brought to love them that hate us, than them that love us more than we would have them do.

我们也许会更早地爱上那些恨我们的人,而不是那些爱我们超过我们所希望的人。

Much melancholy has devolved upon mankind, and it is detestable to me that might will triumph in the end.

许多忧郁已降临到人类身上,我憎恶强权终将胜利。

The proximity of a desirable thing tempts one to overindulgence. On that path lies danger.

接近一件称心如意的东西会使人过分放纵。那条路上有危险。

It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.

与其说培养对法律的尊重,不如说是培养对权利的尊重。

Promise is more worthy than Time and Money.

承诺比时间和金钱更有价值。