1 临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网。—— 董仲舒·《元光之年举贤良对策》

Better go back and make a net than long for the fish by merely staring into the water.

（尹邦彦 译）

 

2 利天下者，天下启之；害天下者，天下闭之。——《六韬·发启》

If you benefit the people of the world, you will attain their support. If you harm the people of the world, you will face their opposition.

（聂送来 译）

 

3 君子之事上也，进思尽忠，退思补过。——《孝经·事君章》

In serving his sovereign the man of the talent and virtue considers how to discharge his duty faithfully while in office; when he retires, he considers how to make up for his own errors.

（刘瑞祥、林之鹤 译）

 

4 夫争天下者，必先争人。明大数者，得人；审小计者，失人。——《管子·霸言》

Whoever competes for the authority over the world should compete for the support of the people. The most sensible persons will win over the people. The sharp-witted but petty-minded ones will lose the support of the people.

（翟江月 译）

 

5 人欲见其所不见，视人所不窥；欲得其所不得，修人所不为。——《列子·仲尼》

If you want to see what you cannot see, you should watch with care what is neglected by others; if you want to get what is beyond your reach, you must do what others are unwilling to do.

（梁晓鹏 译）

 

6 物无非彼，物无非是。自彼则不见，自知则知之。——《庄子·齐物论》

Everything in the world has its "that side"; everything in the world has its "this side". What is ignored from "that side" may be perceived from "this side".

（汪榕培 译）

 

7 尺有所短，寸有所长；物有所不足，智有所不明。——《屈原·卜居》

A foot may be too short for something long; For something weak an inch is strong. Everything has its weak points; Sometimes a wise man disappoints.

（许渊冲 译）

 

8 有缘千里来相会，无缘对面不相逢。——施耐庵：《水浒传》

If fated, men come together though a thousand li apart; if not, they miss each other though they meet face to face.

（Sidney Shapiro 译）

 

9 扫除心上垢，洗净耳边尘。不受苦中苦，难为人上人。——吴承恩·《西游记》

Wipe the dust off your mind, /Wash out the dirt from your ear. /Without the most terrible suffering /You cannot be a great man.

（W. J. F. Jenner 译）

 

10 老吾老，以及人之老，幼吾幼，以及人之幼。——《孟子·梁惠王上》

Respecting my own elders, and extending this respect to the elders of others; caring for my own children, and extending this care to the children of others.

（选自 Comparative Literature and China）