晋平公问于师旷曰:“吾年七十,欲学恐已暮矣。”师旷曰:“何不炳烛乎?”平公曰:“安有为人臣而戏其君乎?”师旷曰:“盲臣安敢戏君乎?臣闻之;少而好学,如日出之阳;壮而好学,如日中之光;老而好学,如炳烛之明。孰与昧行乎?”平公曰:“善哉!”
The Light of a Candle
One day Marquis Ping of the State ofJin said to his minister Shikuang: ”I’m seventy years old now. Though I desire to read and learn more, I am afraid it may be too late. You see I’m in the evening of my life.”
”In the evening? Then why don’t you light a candle?”
”I have spoken to my minister I earnest and he in turn jests with his lord.”
Shikuang said:”How dare I, a blind man? I have heard that a youth who is eager in his studies has a bright future radiating light like the rising sun. A person of middle age, if he is keen on his learning, just shines as the sun at high noon. A person of old age, if he is still given to his study and reading, will give out light as much as a lighted candle does. In spite of its dim light, it is far far better than pitch-dark!”
”What you said is quite right,” approved Marquis Ping admiringly.