天生万物，唯人为贵

 

Man is the most valuable among all the things that heaven fosters.

 

民为重，社稷次之，君为轻。

 

People are the most important element in the state, next are the government and grain, least is the ruler himself.

 

二人同心，其利断金

 

And as a saying from The Book of Changes goes, ”If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.

 

一乡之善士斯友一乡之善士，天下之善士斯友天下之善士。

 

In so many different ways, we are upholding the teachings of Mencius, who said:”A good citizen in one community will befriend the other citizens of the community;a good citizen of the world will befriend the other citizens of the world.”

 

不登高山，不知天之高也；不临深渊，不知地之厚也。

 

One can never be aware of the height of the sky or the depth of the earth, if he does not climb up a high mountain or look down into a deep abyss.

 

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

 

We wigh each other a long life so as to share the beauty of this graceful moonlight, even though miles apart.

 

独在异乡为异客，每逢佳节倍思亲。

 

A lonely stranger in a strange land I am cast, I miss my family all the more on every festive day.

 

二人同心，其利断金。

 

If two people are of the same mind, their sharpness can cut through metal.

 

海内存知己，天涯若比邻。

 

A bosom friend afar brings distance near.

 

祸兮，福之所倚；福兮，祸之所伏。

 

Misfortune,  that is where happiness depends; happiness, that is where misfortune underlies.

 

举首望明月，低头思故乡。

 

Raising my head, I see the moon so bright; withdrawing my eyes, my nostalgia comes around.

 

礼尚往来。往而不来，非礼也；来而不往，亦非礼也。

 

Propriety suggests reciprocity. It is not propriety not to give but to receive, or vice versa.

 

两情若是长久时，又岂在朝朝暮暮。

 

If love between both sides can last for aye, why need they stay together night and day?

 

路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索。

 

The way ahead is long; I see no ending, yet high and low I’ll search with my will unbending.

 

敏而好学，不耻下问。

 

Quick-minded and eager to learn, he is never ashamed to consult his inferiors.

 

天生我材必有用。

 

Heaven has endowed me with talents for eventual use.

 

天时不如地利，地利不如人和。

 

Opportunities vouchsafed by Heaven are less important than terrestrial advantages, which in turn are less important than the unity among people.

 

天行健，君子以自强不息。

 

As Heaven’s movement is ever vigorous, so must a gentleman ceaselessly strive along.

 

无为其所不为，无欲其所不欲，如此而已矣。

 

Don’t do what should not be done; don’t desire what should not be desired. That is all.

 

学而不厌，侮人不倦。

 

Never be contented with your study; never be impatient with your teaching.

 

学如逆水行舟，不进则退。

 

Learning is like rowing upstream: not to advance is to drop back.

 

欲穷千里目，更上一层楼。

 

We widen our views three hundred miles by ascending one flight of stairs./Exhausting my eyes to a thousand li further, I am ascending one more story of the tower.