师说
作者：唐代 韩愈
译者：深圳大学 赖小琪
古之学者必有师。师者，所以传道受业解惑也。人非生而知之者，孰能无惑？惑而不从师，其为惑也，终不解矣。生乎吾前，其闻道也固先乎吾，吾从而师之；生乎吾后，其闻道也亦先乎吾，吾从而师之。吾师道也，夫庸知其年之先后生于吾乎？是故无贵无贱，无长无少，道之所存，师之所存也。
All ancient scholars must have had a teacher. Teachers are those who can impart knowledge to students and dismiss their confusion. Everyone was not born knowledgeable and has confusion. Confusion will remain confusing forever if not solved by teachers. Those who were born before me must have had studied earlier than me. Therefore, I need to learn from them. Those who were born after me but know more than me, I should also learn from them. I do not care about whether he is older or younger than me when I set him as my teacher. Therefore, whether rich or poor, old or young, where there is something valuable to learn, where there must be teachers.
嗟乎！师道之不传也久矣！欲人之无惑也难矣！古之圣人，其出人也远矣，犹且从师而问焉；今之众人，其下圣人也亦远矣，而耻学于师。是故圣益圣，愚益愚；圣人之所以为圣，愚人之所以为愚，其皆出于此乎！爱其子，择师而教之，于其身也，则耻师焉，惑矣！彼童子之师，授之书而习其句读者，非吾所谓传其道解其惑者也。句读之不知，惑之不解，或师焉，或不焉，小学而大遗，吾未见其明也。巫医乐师百工之人，不耻相师；士大夫之族，曰师曰弟子云者，则群聚而笑之。问之，则曰：“彼与彼年相若也，道相似也。位卑则足羞，官盛则近谀。”呜呼！师道之不复可知矣。巫医乐师百工之人，君子不齿。今其智乃反不能及，其可怪也欤！
Oh! It is a long time since the disappearance of learning from teachers, which results in great confusion among the public. In the past our saints were superior to many people, but they were still considerably modest to ask teachers what they did not know. Nowadays many people are far inferior to our saints, but they felt shamed to consult teachers. Therefore, the former become more knowledgeable while the latter become more and more ignorant. The reason is just what we mention above.! Some people love their children and select the best teachers for them. But to themselves, they feel shamed to learn from teachers. I feel confused about it! Those who teach children to read are not the teachers I am referring to here. Some people tend to ask teachers how to understand knowledge in textbooks, but feel shamed to ask teachers the confusion about life. It is unwise to learn small things while throwing away the great! Doctors, musicians and a lot of carpenter are glad to consult their teachers, while the officials laugh at them for their deeds. Asked why they laughed at teachers and students, officials answered, “You are of the same age and equally competent in knowledge. If you regard a person with lower status than yours as a teacher, it is a shame; but if you regard a person with higher status than yours, it is actually like boasting others intentionally.” God! It is obvious from their answer that the custom of learning from teachers is gone for long! It is so weird that those who look down upon doctors’, musicians’ and carpenters’ consulting teachers are far less knowledgeable than them!
圣人无常师。孔子师郯子、苌弘、师襄、老聃。郯子之徒，其贤不及孔子。孔子曰：“三人行，则必有我师”是故弟子不必不如师，师不必贤于弟子。闻道有先后，术业有专攻，如是而已。
A saint will never have only one teacher. Confucius had ever regarded Tanzi, Changhong, Shixiang, Laodan as his teachers, none of whom were superior to him. But confucius said, “There must be a teacher among three people on the way together.” Therefore, students are not necessarily inferior to teachers, while teachers are not necessarily superior to students. We may start to learn in different ages and have different specialties.
李氏子蟠，年十七，好古文，六艺经传，皆通习之，不拘于时，学于余。余嘉其能行古道，作《师说》以贻之。
Li Pan, a 17-year old teenager, fancies ancient articles and has excellently mastered various skills and read through various books. Free from the wicked custom of feeling shamed to ask teacehrs, He is willing to ask me any questions and confusion. I am deeply affected by his deeds and encourage him to continue by composing this article to him! |
