Zigong said: "Poor but not obsequious (1), rich but not arrogant, what is it?"
Zi said: "But also, if you are not poor, you are happy, and you are rich and courteous." ”
Zigong said: "The cloud of "poetry", 'such as cutting, such as learning, such as grinding (2)', what does it mean to be with?"
Zi said: "Give also, you can say that the "poem" has been carried out, and tell the past to know the future. ”
(Note) (1) 谄: (chǎn), to flatter.
(2) Such as cutting, such as learning, such as grinding: the sentences in "The Book of Songs, Wei Feng, Qi Ao". The processing of ivory, bone, jade, etc., after cutting, still needs to be learned, and after cutting, it also needs to be sharpened, which means excellence. The words "to learn" and "ponder" are due to this meaning.
Zigong asked: "How about being poor but not flattering, rich but not proud and arrogant?"
Confucius said, "Yes." However, it is better to be poor and happy when you are poor, and humble and courteous when you are rich. ”
Zigong asked again: "The Book of Songs says that if you cut and learn, if you ponder and grind, that's what you say, right?"
Confucius said: "Zigong, I can talk to you about the Book of Songs, tell you a truth, and you can draw inferences from one case and understand many truths." ”
#我来唠家常#
