有

余

力

，

则

学

文

you

yu

li

ze

xue

wen

还有

多余的

心力

那么、就

学习

学识文章

have

extra

strength

then

study

learning

假如以上都能努力去实行，还有更多的能力，就应该研究学问。
Whatever time you have left should be devoted to learning.

如果以上都能努力去实行，还有多余的时间和精力，那就应该学习更多的知识。

If we diligently carry out the things mentioned in the lines above and still have some time and energy left after that, then we should study more to expand our knowledge.

为什么呢？前面说到，如果没有道德的基础，才智学识都反而成为作恶的工具；但是假如道德具备了，却没有其他的技能知识，也没有办法扩展我们的见地，并进一步地帮助开导别人。就好比一个天生纯洁的小婴孩，连站也不会站，更别说懂得做什么事了！所以“学文”，是十分重要的。但是在学文之初，要先着重道德的修习，所以说“有余力”；就是在讲究道德之后，还要再研究学识。

Why is this? As mentioned before, if we possess talent and knowledge but lack a foundation in virtue, then our talent will only serve to help us do evil. On the other hand, if we have virtue but lack skills and knowledge, then we will not be able to transmit our understanding or to help and teach others. We will be like a newborn baby who cannot even stand up, much less do anything else. Therefore, it is important to study. However, the cultivation of virtue should come even before studying. That's why the line says "whatever time you have left." After first concentrating on the cultivation of virtue, we should spend some time studying.

这个“文”字，在孔子的时代，指的是诗书六艺。也就是包括静态的书本知识，如六经：诗、书、礼、乐、易、春秋；以及动态的技能训练，如六艺 :礼、乐、射、御、书、数。

In Confucius' time, the scope of learning included the Book of Odes, the Book of History, and the six arts. It comprised both academic knowledge, such as from the six classics the Book of Odes, the Book of History, the Book of Rites, the Book of Music, the Book of Change, and the Spring and Autumn Annals --as well as practical skills, such as the six arts--rites, music, archery, charioteering , writing, and arithmetic.

《诗经 》是中国古代的一部诗歌总集，上自君王，乃至文人百官、贩夫走卒，都藉着诗歌来传达他们的心意。赞叹功德的，既不流阿谀：劝谏君王的，亦不显露骨:悲叹命运的，也不至凄厉。因此，学诗足以陶冶人温柔忠厚的本性。

The Book of Odes is a compilation of songs and poems from the kings, scholars, officials, and common people of ancient China: they used songs to express their thoughts and feelings. The odes praised merit without flattering, remonstrated with negligent rulers without being overly harsh, and lamented fate without being excessive. If we study them, we can develop a gentle and honest nature.

《书经》是中国上古的历史书，读了可使人通达事理而有远见。《乐经 》记载着音乐的道理，了解它，会令人知识广博而平易善良。《易经》虽是一本卜筮的记载，却穷究天四时之变化：读通了它，人自然而然地敬天畏命，退而能守，进而能取了！《礼》是研习待人处世的种种礼节，学习这门知识，能令人恭敬自重而俭约。《春秋》是孔子褒贬君臣大义的一部史书，我们可以自当中学到如何应对言谈。

The Book of History, which records the history of China in remote antiquity, can give us a more comprehensive understanding of the facts and principles and a more farsighted view. If we can understand the principles of music theory found in the Book of Music, it will expand our learning and make us more mellow and easy-going. The Book of Change, while used for divination purposes, is actually an exhaustive key to the changes of Nature through the four seasons. Thorough study of it will naturally give us a sense of awe for the universe, we will know when to retreat and guard our position, and when to forge ahead. The Book of Rite. sets forth in detail the various rules of etiquette for inter-acting with others and conducting ourselves in the world. If we learn these rules, we will gain the respect of others, have more self-esteem. and be more thrifty. By studying the Spring and Autumn Annals. in which Confucius praised and disparaged the attitude and conduct of kings and officials, we can learn the proper way to speak in a variety of situations.

这六种的知识，陶冶我们六种不同的修养。而六艺呢？那是六种的技能训练。学习礼节和音乐，有助于调和人庄严且和乐。射箭和驾御马车，是一种智巧和体力配合的最佳体能训练。书写，可以磨平人的锐傲气。算数，却可以锻炼人的敏捷度。这都是古代中国学生的必修课，包括了现代所说的德、智、体、群四育。所以古代的人，事实上是一点也不落伍的。

The study of these six classics can refine our character in six different ways. The six arts are six practical disciplines. The study of rites and music instills in us a sense of dignity and harmony. Archery and charioteering are excellent forms of training that require the combined use of wit and physical strength. Writing, or calligraphy, tempers our aggressiveness and arrogance: arithmetic strengthens our mental agility. These were all subjects that students in ancient China were required to study. The elements of moral education, academic study, physical education, and social training are present in them. We can see that, compared to modern people, the ancients were not behind at all. 

我们现代的学校教育有我们的学科，这里是说，在讲求道德之余，我们就该好好地把这些学科都研习了它，不可偏废。这样内在和外在兼而有之，才叫做“文质彬彬”。

Just as today's schools have their curriculum, here it says that in whatever time we have left after we have applied effort in cultivating virtue. We should devote ourselves to studying these subjects. In that way, we will have both inner cultivation and external knowledge and skills: we will have both elegance and substance.

孔子的学生中，有一个很出名的人物，谁呢？他姓仲名由，字子路。子路为人孝勇信义，豪爽质朴，却也相当莽撞冒失。在拜孔子为师之前，他自恃勇猛，一向瞧不起那些口诵诗书，躬行揖让之礼的读书人，因此初次去见孔子，他就耀武扬威地闯了进去，帽插长长的山鸡毛，腰佩熊皮剑套的特长号宝剑，好不威风！

Confucius had a well-known student named Zhong You, also called Zilu. As a person, Zilu was filial, brave, trustworthy, righteous, straightforward, and unpretentious. But he was also very reckless. Before he became Confucius' student, he had always depended on his bravery and looked down on the intellectuals who knew only how to recite from books and who cultivated courteous manners and yielded to others. The first time he went to see Confucius, he marched in with an awesome martial spirit, a long pheasant feather stuck in his cap, along sword sheathed in bearskin hanging from his waist. 

没想到孔夫子却是那么神色自若，且温文有礼。再比射箭，孔夫子也神闲气定，箭箭直入红心，毫不怯弱。子路自惭形秽，急忙退出，改易儒服，再正式去求见孔子，并拜孔子为师。可是江山易改，本性难移，这么一个弟子，并非容易教化调伏的。

But Confucius' relaxed, gentle, and courteous manner caught him off guard. They had an archery match, during which Confucius was also calm and relaxed. Confucius shot confidently and hit the bull's eye every time. Zilu was embarrassed and ashamed of himself. He hurried back and changed into a scholar's robes, and then he went to visit Confucius formally and to bow to Confucius as his teacher. However, while it is not easy to move mountains and rivers, it is even harder for a person to change his character. Zilu was not a student who was easy to teach and subdue. 

有一次，他就问老师：“南山上有又高又直的好竹子，劈了来做箭，射得又直又远。可见人只要有好的本质就够了，又何必一定要学文？”孔子也引他的譬喻，反过来调教他：“这支竹箭，若前头加上金属的箭头，后尾饰上羽毛，岂不更可射得远，又入得深呢？”子路听了，从此才专心向学，终于成为有用的人才。

He once asked his teacher, "An arrow made from the tail. straight bamboo growing on South Mountain will shoot straight and far. Likewise, if a man has a good character, that should be enough: what need is there to seek refinement in learning? Confucius used the same analogy to answer Zilu, saying, "If one adds a metal tip to that bamboo arrow and feathers to its shaft, won't it shoot even farther and strike even deeper?" Hearing that answer, Zilu was inspired to concentrate on his studies, and he eventually became a very capable individual.

开宗明义章只有八句，以后就把“孝”、“悌”、“谨”、“信”、“泛爱众”、“亲仁”和“学文”，逐次分章地解释出来。

We have discussed the eight verses of the first chapter, which explains the principle and meaning of the text. The following chapters will individually explain the concepts of being filial, being respectful to elders, being careful, being trustworthy, being kind and friendly to all, drawing near to good people, and studying.