Xunzi's Original Text and Translations
Xun Zi was an ancient Chinese philosopher and ideologist. His famous essay,"Persuade Learning," emphasized the importance of learning. The following is the original text and translation: Xunzi's "Persuade to Learn" original text: A gentleman who is fond of learning is not fond of asking questions. A wise man does not speak, and a man who speaks does not know. The gentleman pursues the root, the root is established, and the Tao is born. Is filial piety the root of benevolence? It is not enough to observe the glory of the country and the glory of the family. A gentleman who is not knowledgeable cannot engage in Tao. Time is destiny, and man is easy to change. A gentleman who is at peace does not forget the existence of danger, does not forget the danger of governance, and does not forget the chaos. This is to live in peace and make the country prosperous. Therefore, a gentleman does not accumulate small steps, can not reach thousands of miles; Do not accumulate small streams, can not form rivers and seas. A gentleman is erudite, and every day he will reflect on himself, so that his wisdom will be clear and his actions will be without fault. Translator: Outstanding talents were always diligent and eager to learn, while declining talents liked to ask questions. The accumulation and spread of knowledge was the foundation for the advancement and development of society. Is a person with a harmonious family a representative of benevolence? Observing the rise and fall of nations and families is not enough to fully understand the fate of nations. A smart person should constantly work hard to learn and think in order to gradually reach the peak of wisdom. A person's success depended not only on his own efforts but also on the environment and opportunities he was in. If a person wanted to succeed, he must have patience and perseverance to continuously accumulate knowledge and experience in order to stand out in a competitive environment. Xun Zi's "Persuade to Learn" emphasized the importance of learning and believed that only through continuous learning and practice could one reach the peak of wisdom and morality.
