圖書序言
1、弄權一時 淒涼萬古
棲守道德者,寂寞一時;依阿權勢者,淒涼萬古。達人觀物外之物,思身後之身,寜受一時之寂寞,毋取萬古之淒涼。
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、抱樸守拙 涉世之道
涉世淺,點染亦淺;曆事深,機械亦深。故君子與其練達,不若樸魯;與其麯謹,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 纔華須韞
君子之心事,似青天白日,不可使人不知;君子之纔華,玉韞珠藏,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、齣汙泥而不染 明機巧而不用
勢利紛華,不近者為潔,近之而不染者尤潔;智械機巧,不知者為高,知之而不用者為尤高。
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.