時中 Shizhong (Follow the Golden Mean)
隨時保持符合中庸之道。“時中”一說出自《禮記·中庸》。儒家以“中庸”作為行事的最高準則,強調(diào)為人處世應(yīng)無過、無不及。但無過、無不及的標準,并不是固定不變的教條,而是隨時變化的。人們需要在每一個具體的生活處境中,思考道德、禮法的要求,時時、處處踐行“中庸”的準則,即“時中”的要求。
This term, which originated from The Book of Rites, means that one should at all times follow the principle of the "golden mean." Confucian scholars regarded the mean as the supreme principle guiding people's behavior. They stressed that when handling things one should not act excessively or insufficiently. However, the criteria for determining what were appropriate or not did not remain unchanged. When taking a specific action, one should always bear in mind the need to follow ethical standards and rites, namely, the principle of the mean.
引例 Citation:
◎仲尼曰:“君子中庸,小人反中庸。君子之中庸也,君子而時中;小人之中庸也,小人而無忌憚也?!保ā抖Y記·中庸》)
孔子說:“君子遵行中庸,小人違背中庸。君子的言行之所以能符合中庸之道,是因為他們隨時保持為人處世適中的態(tài)度;小人的言行之所以會違背中庸之道,是因為他們沒有顧忌和畏懼?!?/p>
Confucius said, "A man of virtue follows the mean and a petty man goes against it. A man of virtue seeks to be in keeping with the mean at all times, whereas a petty man goes against it and acts unscrupulously." (The Book of Rites)
推薦:教育部 國家語委
供稿:北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社
責任編輯:錢耐安