古人的文化传统中蕴藏着为人处世的理念，其中不乏我们如今可以参考学习的法则。

　　“以史为鉴”，以古人的行事交往规范自己的言行，是真正理解传统文化不可或缺的一步。

　　今天，我们就来看看一些古语的翻译，中英文内容来自中华思想文化术语传播工程核心成果--《中华思想文化术语》丛书。

　　（图源：视觉中国）

　　己所不欲，勿施于人

　　Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you

　　孔子所提倡的“恕道”，即推己及人的原则，以自己的心意推测、理解别人的心意，亦即今之所谓设身处地，换位思考。

　　This term is the “way of being considerate” advocated by Confucius. It calls for using one’s own mind to infer and understand other people’s minds. In today’s words, it means to put oneself into others’ shoes or to think from their positions.

　　引例

　　子贡问曰：“有一言而可以终身行之者乎？”子曰：“其恕乎！己所不欲，勿施于人。” （《论语•卫灵公》）

　　Zigong asked, “Is there any teaching that can serve as a lasting principle for conduct in one’s whole life？” Confucius replied, “Surely that is to be considerate！ Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you.”

　　四海之内皆兄弟

　　All the people within the Four Seas are brothers

　　全天下的人都亲如兄弟，昭示了中国人兼济天下的博大胸怀、仁爱友善的人文精神。

　　This saying means that all the people in the world are as close as brothers. It shows the inclusive and broad mind of the Chinese and their compassion, love and friendship towards other human beings.

　　引例

　　君子敬而无失，与人恭而有礼，四海之内皆兄弟也。（《论语•颜渊》）

　　A man of virtue always does things conscientiously without making any mistakes and treats people respectfully and appropriately. Then all within the Four Seas will be his brothers.

　　正心

　　Rectify one's heart / mind

　　在真诚践行日用伦常之道的过程中，人心不可避免地会因愤怒、恐惧、欢乐、忧患等情感而有所偏邪。

　　In the course of following the moral principles earnestly in daily life, people are inevitably influenced by sentiments such as anger, fear, joy, and worries, which will, to some degree, lead a person astray.

　　因此需要时常修正自己的心意，使之不受干扰，始终保持对实现日用伦常之道的追求。

　　Therefore, one must always try to rectify one’s mind and avoid being swayed by any interference, so as to keep to the observance of moral principles in daily life.

　　引例

　　意既诚了，而其心或有所偏倚，则不得其正，故方可做那正心底工夫。（《朱子语类》卷十六）

　　When thought has been made sincere but the mind is perhaps still somewhat biased, then it is not possible for a person to stay pure and unbiased. Therefore one should make efforts to rectify one’s mind.

　　诚意

　　Be sincere in thought

　　使追求日用伦常之道的意愿真实无妄。个人的道德行为应出于真实的意愿，而不应在没有真实意愿的情况下仅仅使外在的言行符合道德规范。

　　The pursuit of moral principles in daily life should be true and sincere. An individual’s moral conduct must stem from a genuine wish and must not just conform superficially to the moral principles without true intention of practicing them.

　　引例

　　所谓诚其意者，毋自欺也。如恶恶臭，如好好色，此之谓自谦（qiè）。（《礼记•大学》）

　　Being sincere in one’s thought is to tolerate no self-deception, as one hates undesirable smells or likes lovely colors. That is what is called satisfied with oneself.

　　日新

　　Constant renewal

　　努力使自身不断更新，使民众、社会、国家不断更新，持续进步、完善，始终呈现新的气象。

　　An ongoing process of self-renewal, which also brings new life to the people, society, and the nation. This process features continuous progress and improvement.

　　引例

　　汤之盘铭曰：“苟日新，日日新，又日新。”（《礼记•大学》）

　　“If we can improve ourselves in one day, we should do so every day, and keep building on improvement,” reads the inscription on the bathtub of Tang, founder of the Shang Dynasty.