評論
打印
Chapter 13
第十三章
Favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared; honour and great calamity, to be regarded as personal conditions (of the same kind).
寵辱若驚，貴大患若身。
What is meant by speaking thus of favour and disgrace?
何謂寵辱若驚？
Disgrace is being in a low position (after the enjoyment of favour).
寵為上，辱為下；
The getting that (favour) leads to the apprehension (of losing it), and the losing it leads to the fear of (still greater calamity):
得之若驚，失之若驚，
this is what is meant by saying that favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared.
是謂寵辱若驚。
And what is meant by saying that honour and great calamity are to be (similarly) regarded as personal conditions?
何謂貴大患若身？
What makes me liable to great calamity is my having the body (which I call myself); if I had not the body, what great calamity could come to me?
吾所以有大患者，為吾有身；及吾無身，吾有何患？
Therefore he who would administer the kingdom, honouring it as he honours his own person, may be employed to govern it,
故貴以身為天下，若可寄天下；
and he who would administer it with the love which he bears to his own person may be entrusted with it.
愛以身為天下，若可托天下。
