第56章 心地干净 方可学古

Only when the heart is made clear and pure can one start to model after ancient sages and men of virtue.

心地干净，方可读书学古。不然，见一善行窃以济私，闻一善言假以覆短[1]，是又藉寇兵[2]而赍盗粮[3]矣。

中文注释

[1]覆短：掩盖自己的短处或过失。

[2]藉寇兵：借给敌人武器。藉，借；寇，敌人；兵，武器。

[3]赍盗粮：送给强盗粮食。赍，输送，送与。

今文解译

一个人只有摒除了心中的私心杂念，方才可以读书学古。不然，一见到别人的某个善举就用来美化自己，一听到别人的某句善言就用以掩饰自己的劣迹，这岂不成了借武器给敌寇、送粮草给盗贼了吗？！

EngIish TransIation

Unless all the distracting thoughts are removed from the mind,one can never set out his studying classics and emulating sages and worthies of antiquity.Otherwise,upon having a good deed at sight he will exploit it to beautify himself,or upon hearing a good word he will use it to disguise his own ignominious actions.Such doings are equivalent to lending weapons to enemies and supplying provisions to bandits.