石可破也，而不可夺坚；丹可磨也，而不可夺赤。
释义Explanation
石头可以被击碎，但不能改变其坚硬的本性；丹砂可以被磨细，但不能改变其鲜红的颜色。这句话以物喻人，说明真正高尚的品格如同石之坚、丹之赤，是内在的本质，不会因外力的摧残或环境的改变而丧失。它赞美了在困境中坚守节操、不改变初心的人生态度，强调人的内在品质具有不可剥夺的坚定性。
A stone can be broken, yet its inherent hardness remains unchanged; cinnabar can be ground into powder, but its redness persists. This metaphor conveys that a truly noble character is like the stone's hardness and cinnabar's color—an intrinsic nature that cannot be stripped away by external force or changing circumstances. It celebrates an attitude of maintaining integrity and original aspirations in adversity, emphasizing that one's inner virtues are inalienably steadfast. No matter the trials we face, our core values can remain intact, just as the stone and cinnabar retain their defining qualities despite physical alteration.
使用场景Usage
在职场中，当面临利益诱惑或压力要求违背原则时，坚守道德底线的人会想起这句话。比如，一位工程师拒绝在质量检测报告上作假，即使面临失业风险，也要保持诚信，正如石之坚、丹之赤，不为外力所夺。
In professional life, when confronted with ethical dilemmas—such as being asked to falsify data or compromise safety standards—one recalls this maxim. A quality assurance specialist, despite managerial pressure to approve defective products, chooses to uphold truthfulness, embodying the stone's unyielding hardness and the cinnabar's unfading color. This ancient wisdom inspires modern individuals to remain true to their principles, regardless of external pressures, knowing that integrity is an inviolable inner resource.