13、君子成人之美,不成人之惡。
The gentleman helps others to achieve their moral perfection but not their evil conduct.
14、君子獨立不慚于影,獨寢不愧于魂。
A righteous man never feels ashamed to face his shadow when standing alone and to face his soul when sleeping alone.
15、君子之交淡如水,小人之交甘如醴。君子淡以親,小人甘以絕。
The friendship between men of virtue is light like water, yet affectionate; the friendship between men without virtue is sweet like wine, yet easily broken.
16、老吾老以及人之老,幼吾幼以及人之幼。
Expend the respect of the aged in one’s family to that of other families; expend the love of the young ones in one’s family to that of other families.
17、禮尚往來。往而不來,非禮也;來而不往,亦非禮也。
Propriety suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give out but to receive, or vice versa.
18、兩情若是長久時,又豈在朝朝暮暮。
If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?
19、路漫漫其修遠兮,吾將上下而求索。
The way ahead is long; I see no ending, yet high and low I’ll search with my will unbending.
20、民為貴,社稷次之,君為輕。
The people are the most important element in a state; next are the gods of land and grain; least is the ruler himself.
21、千丈之堤,以螻蟻之穴潰;百尺之屋,以突隙之煙焚。
A long dike will collapse because of an ant-hole in it; a tall building will be burned down by a spark from a chimney’s chink.
22、鍥而舍之,朽木不折,鍥而不舍,金石可鏤。
Carve but give up half way, even a decayed piece of wood will not break; carve without stop, even metal and stone can be engraved.
23、人有悲歡離合,月有陰晴陽缺,此事古難全。
People have sorrow and joy; they part and meet again. The moon dims or shines; it waxes or wanes. Nothing is perfect, not even in the olden days.
24、人之于文學也,猶玉之于琢磨也。
Learning and culture are to a person what polished and grinding are to jade.