中庸第十三章 Doctrine of the Mean Chapter Thirteen

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原文：
子曰：“道不远人。人之为道而远人，不可以为道。
诗云：‘伐柯伐柯，其则不远。’执柯以伐柯，睨而视之，犹以为远。故君子以人治人，改而止。
忠恕违道不远。施诸己而不愿，亦勿施于人。
君子之道四，丘未能一焉：所求乎子以事父，未能也；所求乎臣以事君，未能也；所求乎弟以事兄，未能也；所求乎朋友先施之，未能也。庸德之行，庸言之谨；有所不足，不敢不勉；有余，不敢尽。言顾行，行顾言。君子胡不慥慥尔。”

白话文：
孔子说：“中庸之道并不会远离人。如果有人实行中庸之道却远离他人，那就无法实行中庸之道。”
“《诗经》说：‘砍削斧柄，砍削斧柄，斧柄的式样就在眼前。’拿着斧子去砍树做斧把，准备照着旧斧把的样子做新斧把，但是斜着眼睛看上去，斧把的样子好像还是离得很远。所以，君子总是根据不同人的情况采取不同的办法治理，只要他能改正错误实行道就行。”
“做到忠恕就离道不远了，什么叫忠恕呢？自己不愿意的事，也不要施加给别人。”
“君子践行道有四个基本要求，我孔丘连其中的一项也没有能够做到：用要求儿子的标准去要求自己伺奉父亲，我尚未做到；作为臣子本应该对君主做到的，我尚未做到；作为弟弟本应该对兄长做到的，我尚未做到；作为朋友本应该先做到的，我尚未做到。平常的德行努力实践，平常的言谈尽量谨慎。德行的实践有不足的地方，不敢不勉励自己努力；言谈却不敢放肆而无所顾忌。说话符合自己的行为，行为符合自己说过的话，这样的君子怎么会不忠厚诚实呢？”

英文：
Confucius said: "The Dao is not distant from people. If someone practices the Dao while making it seem abstruse and detached from human affairs, that cannot be called the true Dao.
The Book of Songs states: 'Cutting an axe handle by an axe handle—the pattern is right before you.' Yet when holding an axe handle to carve wood, if one glances sideways, the standard still appears distant. Thus, the noble person guides others by human nature itself, stopping once they correct their faults.
Loyalty and reciprocity are close to the Way. What you do not wish to be done to yourself, do not impose on others.
There are four aspects of the noble person's Way, none of which I, Confucius, have fully achieved: demanding filial piety from a son while failing to perfectly serve my own father; demanding loyalty from a subject while failing to perfectly serve my ruler; demanding respect from a younger brother while failing to perfectly honor my elder brother; demanding trustworthiness from friends while failing to act first. Ordinary virtues must be practiced diligently; ordinary words must be spoken cautiously. Where I fall short, I dare not neglect self-improvement; where I excel, I dare not indulge complacency. Let speech align with action, and action match speech. How can such a noble person not be sincere and earnest?"