中 庸 Zhongyong – The Doctrine of the Mean

誠者自成也，而道自道也。

原文 87

Sincerity is that whereby self-completion is effected, and its way is that by which man must direct himself.

Legge XXV.1.

诚是具体的，有过程的，万物有始有终。不诚，就空无一物。所以君子以使自己心诚为最可贵。

白话翻译

誠者物之終始，不誠無物。是故君子誠之為貴。

原文 88

Sincerity is the end and beginning of things; without sincerity there would be nothing. On this account, the superior man regards the attainment of sincerity as the most excellent thing.

Legge XXV.2.

诚，不仅仅只成就自己便算了，还要使别人也同样有成就。成就自己是仁德，成就别人是智慧。这都是天赋的德性，内则成己，外则成物，这是综合内外的规律，因此随时施行无不合宜。

白话翻译

誠者非自成己而已也，所以成物也。成己，仁也；成物，知也。性之德也，合外內之道也，故時措之宜也。

原文 89

The possessor of sincerity does not merely accomplish the self-completion of himself. With this quality he completes other men and things also. The completing himself shows his perfect virtue. The completing other men and things shows his knowledge. Both these are virtues belonging to the nature, and this is the way by which a union is effected of the external and internal. Therefore, whenever he –the entirely sincere man– employs them,–that is, these virtues,– their action will be right.

Legge XXV.3.

至诚是不间断的。

白话翻译