第4章 与其练达 不若朴鲁

Better be honest and straightforward than scheming and calculating.

涉世浅，点染[1]亦浅；历事深，机械[2]亦深。故君子与其练达[3]，不若朴鲁[4]；与其曲谨[5]，不若疏狂。

中文注释

[1]点染：熏染。此处指受社会不良风气的影响。

[2]机械：巧诈，机巧。

[3]练达：阅历丰富而通晓人情世故。

[4]朴鲁：朴实鲁钝。此处指不谙人情世故。

[5]曲谨：指过于谨小慎微。

今文解译

涉世尚浅的人，受不良风气的影响也少；而阅历丰富的人，心里的算计也多。所以：君子与其精明老到，不如纯朴愚鲁；与其谨小慎微，不如狂放不羁。

EngIish TransIation

A man who is less experienced in the world will equally be less stained with its undesirable trends.A man who has seen more of the world will equally be more trickery and crafty.It is therefore worthwhile for the man of moral integrity to remain honest and straightforward rather than become scheming and calculating,and remain large-minded and unrestrained rather than become overcautious and fainthearted.