The Briefness of Chinese Philosophy
中国哲学的简洁性
The foregoing may explain why the writings and sayings of some philosophers are disconnected; but it does not explain why they are brief.
以上所述可以说明，何以有些中国哲学家的著述中，内容不相连贯，但还没有说明，何以有些中国哲学家的著述十分简短。
foregoing，前文提到的
In some philosophic writings, such as those of Mencius and Hsün Tzu, one does find systematic reasoning and arguments.
在有些哲学家如孟子、荀子的著作里，的确也有长篇大论的文章。
Mencius，孟子
Hsün Tzu，荀子
But in comparison with the philosophic writings of the West, they are still not articulate enough.
但是，如果和西方哲学家的著作相较，它们仍然显得篇幅短小，未曾把道理讲透。
articulate，英 [ɑ:'tɪkjʊleɪt]，美 [ɑr'tɪkjulet]
adj. 发音清晰的；口才好的；有关节的
vt. 清晰地发（音）；明确有力地表达；用关节连接；使相互连贯
vi. 发音；清楚地讲话；用关节连接起来
n. 【动物学】有节体的动物
The fact is that Chinese philosophers were accustomed to express themselves in the form of aphorisms, apothegms, or allusions, and illustrations.
这是因为中国哲学家惯于用格言、警句、比喻、事例等形式表述思想。
aphorism, 英 ['æfərɪz(ə)m]，美 ['æfərɪzəm]
n. 格言；警句
apothegm, 英 ['æpəθem]，美 [æpəˌθɛm]
n. 格言；箴言；警句
allusion, 英 [ə'luːʒ(ə)n; -'ljuː-]，美 [ə'lʊʒən]
n. 暗示；提及
illustration，事例
The whole book of the Lao-tzu consists of aphorisms, and most of the chapters of the Chuang-tzu are full of allusions and illustrations.
《老子》全书都是以格言形式写成，《庄子》书中充满寓言和故事。
This is very obvious.
But even in writings such as those of Mencius and Hsün Tzu, mentioned above, when compared with the philosophical writings of the West, there are still too many aphorisms, allusions, and illustrations.
即使在中国哲学家中以说理见长的孟子和荀子，把他们的著作和西方哲学家的著作相较，其中的格言、比喻和事例也比西方哲学著作中要多。
Aphorisms must be very brief; allusions and illustratetions must be disconnected.
格言总是简短的，而比喻和事例则总是自成段落，与前后文字不相衔接的。
Aphorisms, allusions,and illustrations are thus not articulate enough.
用格言、比喻和事例来说理，难免有不够透彻的地方，
Their insufficiency in articulateness is compensated for, however, by their suggestiveness.
只能靠其中的暗示补足。
Articulateness and suggestiveness are, of course, incompatible.
明述和暗示正好相反，
The more an expression is articulate, the less it is suggestive - just as the more an expression is prosaic, the less it is poetic.
一句话越明晰，其中就越少暗示的成分，正如一种表达，越是采取散文的形式，就越不像是诗。
prosaic，英 [prə(ʊ)'zeɪɪk]，美 [prə'zeɪk]
adj. 平凡的，乏味的；散文体的
The sayings and writings of the Chinese philosophers are so inarticulate that their suggestiveness is almost boundless.
中国哲学家的语言如此不明晰，而其中所含的暗示则几乎是无限的。
From YLYK《中国哲学的故事》专辑S01E25
