君子行不贵苟难,说不贵苟察,名不贵苟传,唯其当之为贵。
释义Explanation
君子不把行为仅因困难就视为可贵,不把言论仅因精密巧辩就视为可贵,不把名声仅因流传广泛就视为可贵;他只以恰当、合宜为贵。荀子借此强调,判断言行和名誉的根本标准不是难度、新奇或流传度,而是“当”——即符合礼义、是否合于中道。这提醒我们应反对刻意标新立异、追求虚名或极端,坚持做合理、合宜的事。
The noble person does not regard an action as valuable merely because it is hard, a statement merely because it is cleverly argued, or a reputation merely because it is widely spread. For Xunzi, the only real standard is 'dang'—what is fitting, balanced, and in accord with ritual and righteousness. He warns against prizing difficulty, novelty, or fame for their own sake. True worth lies in doing what is right and appropriate rather than in extremeness or display. This principle calls us to examine whether our choices are genuinely right, not merely impressive.
使用场景Usage
在社交媒体时代,不少人为了博取流量而发表极端、晦涩或耸人听闻的言论,或追逐虚名。这句话提醒我们:判断行为、观点和名声的价值,不应只看它是否艰难、是否吸睛或是否广传,而应看它是否恰当、合理、合乎道义。在工作和公共表达中,应追求做正确合宜的事,而非制造难度或轰动。
In today's social media-driven world, many people seek attention by making extreme, obscure, or sensational statements and by chasing empty fame. Xunzi's words remind us that the worth of an action, opinion, or reputation should be measured by whether it is appropriate, reasonable, and ethical—not by how hard, eye-catching, or widespread it is. In our work and public expression, we should aim to do what is right and fitting rather than what creates noise or spectacle.