Chapter Five: LEARNING TO BE TRUSTWORTHY

凡出言，信为先，诈与妄，奚可焉。
话说多，不如少，惟其是，勿佞巧。
苛薄语，秽污词，市井气，切戒之。
见未真，勿轻言，知未的，勿轻传。
事非宜，勿轻诺，苟轻诺，进退错。
见人善，即思齐，纵去远，以渐跻。
见人恶，即内省，有则改，无加警。
凡道字，重且舒，勿急疾，勿模糊。
彼说长，此说短，不关己，莫闲管。
惟德学，惟才艺，不如人，常自励。
若衣服，若饮食，不如人，勿生戚。
闻过怒，闻誉喜，损友来，益友却。
闻誉恐，闻过欣，直谅士，渐相亲。
无心非，名为错，有心非，名为恶。
过能改，归于无，倘掩饰，增一辜。

古人有「一言以兴邦，一言以丧邦」的讲法，可见得言语谨慎的要紧。领导美国独立战争，而终于成为美国第一任总统的乔治‧华盛顿先生，就有很多以信实闻名的故事流传下来。最广为人知的，就是「乔治‧华盛顿和樱桃树」，相信很多国家的人，在童年时期就听说过了。华盛顿去世后，一本他一七四五年使用的记事簿，在他旧居的维琴尼亚州农庄被发现出来。

The ancients had a saying, "One word can cause the nation to prosper; one word can cause it to perish." This shows the importance of being careful in our speech. There are many stories about the honesty of George Washington, who led the Americans in the War of Independence and became the first U.S. President. The most well－known one is about George Washington and the cherry tree. People from different nations probably heard this story in their childhood. After his death, a notebook that he kept in 1745 was discovered in his former home in a farming village in Virginia.

在这本记事簿中，华盛顿亲笔抄录了大约一百一十条的「国民应对守则」。这些言语应对的守则，呈现出十八世纪对青少年充实的人格教育；时至今日，大部分的守则仍然十分适用于现代人的行为。十四岁的华盛顿为什么抄写这些守则？可能他是以此为自己的座右铭和言行准绳；毋怪乎能淬炼出足以成为领导者的良好品德和人际关系了！可惜现代人情浇薄，道德败坏，家庭和学校的教育不再重视人格教育了，就连领导人的品德，也不再讲求，真是可哀啊！

In that notebook, Washington had copied by hand some 110 of the Rules of Civility in Conversation Amongst Men. These rules of etiquette reveal that the young people of the 18th century received a strong moral education. Even today, the majority of the rules are still applicable in modern etiquette. Why did 14-year-old Washington copy those rules? They probably served as a standard for his own conduct and speech. No wonder he became a leader of such fine character and social skill! It is unfortunate that our sense of kindness has worn thin and moral values have declined, and the development of character is no longer emphasized in the family or at school. Even the moral caliber of our leaders is no longer important. How sad!

在这些守则中，有一条是关于谨言慎语的﹕「不要爱沾惹明知不实的任何消息；在转述听来的话时，毋须讲出是谁说的；切勿企图发现秘密。」这意思和本章所说的十分类似，都是教我们要谨言实语，不要随便传播任何不真确事情。可惜人总是等闲视之，总要等到惹出祸事，否则还不知检讨或反悔；甚至有的还懵懵懂懂地，不知祸事正是起源于自己的多嘴饶舌呢！

One of the rules of civility concerns cautious speech: "Do not get involved in passing any news that is not true. When you pass on something that you heard, you should not report who said it. Don’t try to discover secrets." The meaning here is exactly the same as that of this section. They both tell us to be cautious and truthful in what we say, and not casually spread news that may not be true. What a shame that most people treat this casually and do not examine themselves until a calamity happens. Even then, they may still be muddled and not realize that the calamity came from their own tongue-wagging!

华盛顿抄录的「国民应对守则」中，还有一条﹕「不要接受任何不能做的事情；但却要小心地信守诺言。」这是教我们要重然诺。所谓「重」，当然是「重视」，但很多人却不真正明了「重视」的真谛。怎么说呢？譬如珠宝，人因为重视它的价值，不肯轻易示人，除非在合适的地方，或是面对可靠的人；可是对于比珠宝更值得宝贵的诺言，却表现得太轻忽，很少考虑面对的人是否可靠，去的地方是否合适，做的事情是否正当。

Among the rules of civility that Washington copied, another one says, "Do not accept any task that you are unable to perform, but carefully keep your promises." This is telling us to take our promises seriously. However, many people do not know what being "serious" really means. For example, if they had a valuable gem, they would not casually display it except in a suitable place or in the presence of trustworthy people. Promises are much more valuable than gems, yet people are often too casual. They seldom consider whether the person is reliable, whether the place is suitable, or whether what they are doing is proper.

在答应事情之前，既没经过谨慎的考虑，答应事情之后，往往马上就后悔了。于是乎，有的就率而毁诺，这等人当然是不重视诺言；即便为了守信，而勉强去做，还是不能谓之重视诺言。为什么呢？因为他答应得太轻率了！因为他忽略了事情可能造成的后果了！那个后果，也许足以令你毁身害命丧家邦，而你在答应之初，却不曾细想其结果，反而颛颛执守之，造成难以弥补的憾恨。这样子的重视诺言，不是真正了了明白重视的真谛，反而不如不守信的好。

They hastily make promises without carefully considering these things, and afterwards, they usually regret it. When that happens, they may abruptly break their promise; such people of course are not serious about their promises. Even if one forces oneself to carry out the promise in order to keep one’s word, one still cannot be considered "serious" about one’s promises. Why? Because one was too casual in making the promise! One did not consider the possible consequences, which might be severe enough to ruin oneself, one’s family, or the country. Before making the promise, you failed to consider the consequences; then you insist on holding to it, thereby causing irreparable resentment. One who makes promises in this way does not understand how to make them seriously; it would be better not to keep one’s promises.

所以孔子才说﹕「信近于义，言可复也。」义者宜也，也就是正当而合宜；复者赴也，也就是实行，就是赴汤蹈火也无悔。汉朝的季布，因为言出必行，时人用「一诺千金」来称誉他；至圣先师孔子的时代，邾国归鲁，也是经他的弟子子路一诺而定，连盟约都不须签。典型在宿昔，值得我们效法！总之，对于承诺，必须慎乎始，还得信乎终，这样才可称之为「重视」。

That is why Confucius said, "One who is trustworthy is close to right conduct, and can carry out his words." Right conduct refers to what is suitable and proper. Such a person will jump into hot water or step into fire without regret, if that is what is required. Since Ji Bu of the Han Dynasty never failed to keep his word, people praised him, saying, “one promise from him is worth a thousand pieces of gold." In the time of Confucius, that Great Sage and teacher, the state of Zhu was returned to the State of Lu merely on the promise of his disciple Zi Lu, without even a contract needing to be signed. These examples from the past are truly worth following. To sum up, we should be careful in making promises and faithful in carrying them out. Then, our promises can be considered serious.

孔子周游列国时，曾经三度访卫。第三次还未到卫都，路经蒲地，意外地发现卫将公叔氏正在操兵，打造武器，企图叛卫。公叔氏以兵马重重包围孔子一行人，意图争取孔子的支持，但这是违背孔子忠君的信仰的，孔子怎会答应呢？争取未遂，对方一来尊敬孔子，二来不愿担「害贤」的恶名，只要求孔子发誓不到卫国，便可通行。当时学生很紧张，答应嘛，则有违孔子的原则；不答应呢，则会当场丧命，又谁来通风报信，挽救卫国的危机？

When Confucius was traveling around the feudal states, he visited the State of Wei three times. The third time, before he had arrived at the capital, he accidentally came upon the Gonshu--a general of Wei, leading his troops through its drills in preparation for a revolt against Wei. Gongshu told his mounted troops to surround Confucius and his followers, hoping to convince him to support him. But this would have gone against Confucius’ loyalty to his ruler; how could Confucius agree? Having failed in his attempt, Gongshu, out of respect for Confucius and unwilling to earn the reputation of banning a worthy, asked only that Confucius swear that he would not go to the State of Wei; then he would let them pass. The disciples were very nervous. If Confucius agreed, he would be going against his principles. If he did not, they would lose their lives and no one would be able to inform the State of Wei and save them from the impending threat.

结果孔子镇定地答应了，但等对方一撤兵，孔子马上吩咐弟子调转车头，直奔卫国。当时学生很疑惑，说﹕「约定好的事，可以不信守吗？」可是一向强调信实的孔子却说﹕「被要挟而签下的盟约，当然可以不遵守。」孔子的知时宜，在中国古代圣贤中，可说是少有的。

As it turned out, Confucius calmly agreed. But as soon as the troops were gone, he immediately instructed his disciples to turn around and drive quickly to the State of Wei. The disciples were in doubt: "How can he break his promise?" But Confucius, the one who always emphasized honesty, said, "Of course you don’t have to follow a promise that you were forced into making." Confucius’ ability to recognize the situation was a rare quality, even among the ancient Chinese sages.

亚圣孟子就尊之为「圣之时者」。孔子自己也说过﹕「颜回比我诚信。」但为什么颜回是学生，而孔子是老师呢？孔子说﹕「颜回很诚信，却不知道有时对一些不当的承诺，不去实践，才是真正的诚信。所以，我们人固然要奉行道德，却不可不知时宜分寸，反成愚忠愚孝，小信小义之徒，失去中庸之道！

Mencius, the Second Sage, honored him as "The Sage of knowing the Time." Confucius himself said, "Yan Hui is more faithful than I " Then why was Yan Hui the student and Confucius the teacher? Confucius said, "Yan Hui is very faithful, but does not realize that sometimes, true faithfulness consists in not carrying out inappropriate promises." And so, while we should practice morality, we should not fail to judge the situation and engage in foolish loyalty, foolish filial devotion, petty trustworthiness, or petty righteousness. To make those mistakes is not the true Middle Way.