中英双语名言十二则
Twelve Chinese-English Famous Sayings
1）
义感君子，利动小人。
【白话译文】
道义能感召君子，利益可驱使常人。
【英译】
Noble hearts are moved by righteousness; common minds are driven by gain.
2）
太刚则折，至察无徒。
【白话译文】
过于刚硬易被折断，苛察至极则无人追随。
【英译】
Too rigid, and you break; too critical, and you stand alone.
核心思想：事物极端化会导致负面结果——过于刚硬易受挫，过分苛察则失去同伴。
3）
智者千虑必有一失，愚者千虑必有一得。
【白话译文】
聪明的人即使反复思考，也难免会有失误；愚笨的人只要不断思考，总会有所收获。
【英译】
①
The wise may err despite a thousand thoughts; the foolish may gain through a thousand considerations.
②
The wise may make mistakes despite repeated thinking; the foolish may gain through countless musings.
③
The wise may stumble after much thought; the foolish may find truth through persistence.
4）
鸟之将死，其鸣也哀；
人之将死，其言也善。
【白话译文】
鸟临死时，叫声凄切；
人临死时，话语真诚。
【英译】
A dying bird’s song is sorrowful;
A dying man’s words hold kindness.
5）
浊其源而望其流清，曲其形而欲其影直，不可得也。
【白话译文】
若搅浑源头却指望水流清澈，扭曲形体却奢望影子笔直，是绝对不可能的。
【英译】
①
If you muddy the source, yet expect the stream to run clear; if you bend the shape, yet demand the shadow to stand straight, — this is a futile hope.
②
You cannot expect the stream to be clear if the source is turbid, nor can you expect the shadow to be straight if the object is crooked.
This saying illustrates that one must address the root of a problem to achieve a desirable outcome.
6）
临渊羡鱼，不如退而结网。
【白话译文】
与其站在水边眼馋鱼儿，不如回家织网去捕。
【英译】
Better to weave your net than stand by the pond craving fish.
7）
如临深渊，如履薄冰；
战战栗栗，日慎一日。
【白话译文】
如同立于深渊之畔，如同行走薄冰之上；心怀戒惧，一日比一日更加谨慎。
【英译】
As if standing by an abyss, as if treading on thin ice;
With unceasing vigilance, grow more cautious with each passing day.
8）
天下熙熙，皆为利来；
天下攘攘，皆为利往。
【白话译文】
世间纷扰忙碌，皆为利益而来；人群往来奔波，皆为利益而往。
【英译】
All the world’s bustle draws people in pursuit of gain;
All the world’s hustle drives people chasing gain again.
9）
涓流虽寡，浸成江河；
爝火虽微，卒能燎野。
【白话译文】
细流虽小，汇聚可成江河；星火虽微，蔓延终能燎原。
【英译】
Tiny streams,though weak, may swell into rivers;
Faint sparks, though small, can ignite the wilds ablaze.
10）
风起于青萍之末，
浪成于微澜之间。
【白话译文】
风从浮萍的叶尖悄然生起，浪由细小的波纹层层聚成。
【英译】
Winds awaken from the edge of floating weeds,
Waves rise through the gathering of silent ripples
11）
路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索。
【白话译文】
前方的道路漫长而艰险，我将不遗余力地去追寻与探索。
直译版
Long is the road, far my quest; I will search high and low without rest.
意译版
The road ahead is long and arduous, yet I will strive tirelessly to seek truth in all directions.
诗意版
Endless the path, steep the climb; I journey onward through space and time.
12）
资本来到世间，从头到脚，每一个毛孔都滴着血和肮脏的东西。
译文1
Capital comes dripping from head to toe, from every pore, with blood and dirt.
译文2
Capital comes into the world, dripping from head to foot, from every pore, with blood and dirt.
