《礼记》:
礼,闻取于人,不闻取人;礼,闻来学,不闻往教。
译文:
学礼,只听说到师长处学,没听说让师长上门来教的;懂礼的人只听说别人自动来学习,没听说主动去教人的。
原文:
夫礼者,所以定亲疏,决嫌疑,别同异,明是非也。礼,不妄说人,不辞费。礼,不逾节,不侵侮,不好狎。修身践言,谓之善行。行修言道,礼之质也。礼,闻取于人,不闻取人;礼,闻来学,不闻往教。
译文:
礼,是用来确定亲疏的标准,判断疑惑不解的问题,分辨事物的同异,明确事理的是非的。礼,不随便取悦于人,不空话连篇。礼要求不超越各种等级的规定,不傲慢侵陵别人,不随便与人亲热。修养自身的品德,说到都能做到,这是美好的品行。品行端正,说话合乎正道,这是礼的根本。学礼,只听说到师长处学,没听说让师长上门来教的;懂礼的人只听说别人自动来学习,没听说主动去教人的。
According to those rules, one should not (seek to) please others in an improper way, nor be lavish of his words. According to them, one does not go beyond the definite measure, nor encroach on or despise others, nor is fond of (presuming) familiarities. To cultivate one's person and fulfil one's words is called good conduct. When the conduct is (thus) ordered, and the words are accordant with the (right) course, we have the substance of the rules of propriety. I have heard that it is in accordance with those rules that one should be chosen by others (as their model); I have not heard of his choosing them (to take him as such). I have heard in the same way of (scholars) coming to learn; I have not heard of (the master) going to teach.