图书序言
1、弄权一时 凄凉万古
栖守道德者,寂寞一时;依阿权势者,凄凉万古。达人观物外之物,思身后之身,宁受一时之寂寞,毋取万古之凄凉。
A moment of power exchanges for eternal loneliness.
For those who observe the moral principle, loneliness is only temporary, but for those who surrender to power and wealth, loneliness will be eternal. An enlightened person evaluates things beyond their material value, and plans for life beyond its temporal existence. He is willing to suffer loneliness temporarily, but not to be rejected eternally.
2、抱朴守拙 涉世之道
涉世浅,点染亦浅;历事深,机械亦深。故君子与其练达,不若朴鲁;与其曲谨,不若疏狂。
Simplicity and honesty are good ways to conduct life in this world.
Being innocent of worldly shrewdness is innocent of sophistication. Sophistication is not far from cunning. It is better to be simple and honest than to be shrewd and sophisticated.
3、心事宜明 才华须韫
君子之心事,似青天白日,不可使人不知;君子之才华,玉韫珠藏,不可使人易知。
Disclose intention, but conceal ability.
A real person’s intention, which is like the bright sun in the blue sky, is void of any shadow of evil; therefore, there is no reason to conceal it. A real person’s ability, which is like the precious stone or the valuable pearl, is easy to attract jealousy, so it should be carefully treasured instead of any unnecessary exposure.
4、出污泥而不染 明机巧而不用
势利纷华,不近者为洁,近之而不染者尤洁;智械机巧,不知者为高,知之而不用者为尤高。
Keep clean in the mud. Reject cunning maneuvers.
Chasing neither power nor wealth is clean. Possessing both power and wealth but without being contaminated by them is even cleaner. Knowing no cunning tricks is admirable. Knowing various cunning tricks but refusing to use them is even more admirable.