The desire of a sage is the same as that of the multitude.
多行無禮，必自及也。——《左傳•襄公四年》
He who frequently breaks the rules of ceremonies will surely bring about harm to himself.
君子上交不諂，下交不瀆。——《周易•系辭下》
A gentleman neither fawns on those who are superior to him, nor slights those who are inferior.
兄弟鬩于墻,外御其務。——《詩經(jīng)·小雅·棠棣》
Brothers, though quareling at home, should fight together against the insult from outside.
二人同心，其利斷金。——《周易·系辭上》
When two men are one in heart, they will get such a strength that metal can be easily cut.
居上位而不驕，在下位而不憂。——《周易·文言》
No complacence when ranked high; no anxiety when low.
知過謂之智，改過謂之勇，無過謂之仁。——《陳確集》
Wisdom means to find out one’s own mistakes. Courage means the correction of those means to make no mistakes.
防微杜漸而禁于未然。——《元史·張楨傳》
Evils should be prevented before they are fully developed.
人生自古誰無死，留取丹心照汗青。——文天祥《過零丁洋》
Since death is unavoidable to everyone throughout history, what one should strive for is a loyal heart, gloriously recorded in the historic books.
貧賤憂戚，庸玉女于成也。——《正蒙·乾稱》
Poverty, humbleness, depression and woe all greatly help a man to achieve great success.
淡則欲心平，和則躁心釋。——周敦頤《通書·樂上》
Nonchalance calms down the desires and peace expels impetuously.
水能載舟，亦能覆舟。
The water that bears the boat is the same that swallows it up.
春蠶到死絲方盡，蠟炬成灰淚始干。——李商隱《無題》
Till the end of life a silk worm keeps spining silk.Till burning itself out a candle goes on lighting us.
誰言寸草心，報得三春暉。——孟郊《游子吟》
Never enough is the gratitude of grass for the grace of the spring sun.
言非法度不出于口，行非公道不萌于心。——楊炯《杜袁州墓志銘》
Speak nothing against laws and regulations, and think nothing against justice.
不為茍得以偷安，不為茍免而無恥。——《群書治要·體論》
Do not seek ignoble, nor to preserve life with disgrace.
生以救時，死以明道。——《中說·周公》
Try to secure society from dangers when alive.
Die a heroic death to illustrate Tao.
勿以惡小而為之，勿以善小而不為。——《三國志·蜀志·先生傳》
Do not do evil things though they may be insignificant.
Do not give up good things though they may be minor matters.
良將不怯死以茍免，烈士不毀節(jié)以求生。——《三國志·魏志·龐德傳》
A good general never escapes from battles through fear of death.
A hero never saves his life at the cost of his conduct.
并非有錢就是快樂，問心無愧心最安
Having money does not always bring happiness,
but having a clear conscious definitely brings a peace of mind.
盡信書則不如無書。 《孟子·盡心下》
We would rather be short of books than believe all that they say.
有教無類。 《論語·衛(wèi)靈公》
Education should be for all, irrespective of their social status.
大凡為學，先須立志，志大而大，志小而小。有有志而不遂者矣，未有無志而成者也。張履祥《初學備忘》
Generally speaking, one who intends to learn must be determined first and foremost. With great determination, one’s achievement in learning will be great; with lack of will, his achievement will be small. There are some who show determination but still fail to succeed in learning. Without the will, however, there is no prospect of success.
發(fā)憤忘食,樂以忘憂,不知老之將至。《論語·述而》
So dilligent and occupied am I in learning as to forget meals, and so great a rejoicing have I attained in it as to forget all worries and sorrows. In such a mood, I even forget I am getting old.
止謗莫如修身。——《中論·道虛》
The best way not to be slandered is to devote oneself to selfcultivation.
欲人勿聞，莫若勿言；欲人勿知，莫若勿為。《漢書·枚乘傳》
If you do not want to be heard, you’d better keep silent; if you do not want your actions to be seen, you’d better not start.
凡學之道，嚴師為難。師嚴，然后道尊。道尊，然后民知敬學。《禮記·學記》
About learning, the most difficult thing is to find strict teachers. Only when the teachers are strict can the students appreciate the Tao. Only when the Tao is appreciated can people respect learning.
善待問者如撞鐘,叩之以小則小鳴，叩之以大則大鳴。《禮記•學記》
A teacher who is good at answering students’ inquires is like a bell being struck. Being slightly struck, it will ring in a low voice; being heavily struck, it will ring loud. 處逸樂而欲不放，居貧窮而志不倦。——《論衡`自記》
Be not wanton when in leisure and pleasure. Neither be frustrated when in poverty and hardship.
誠無詬，思無辱。——《說苑·敬慎》
Honesty prevents defilement and thinking prevents disgrace.
君子之言寡而實，小人之言多而虛。——《說苑·說從》
A superior man talks little but it is the truth; whereas an inferior man talks much, but it is false.
士不以利移，不為患改。——《說苑·說從》
A superior man never changes his mind for profits nor wavers in the face of perils.
水至清則無魚,人至察則無徒。《漢書·東方朔傳》
No fish can survive if the water is too clean. For the same reason, no company can bear one whose requirements are too critical.
君子有三患：未之聞；患弗得聞也；既聞之，患弗得學也；既學之，患弗能行也。《禮記·雜學》
A gentleman has three worries: not yet being informed of a good thing, he worries until he knows. When he knows, he begins to worry he has not yet learned it. When he learns it, he begins to worry he has not yet put it into practice.