一、棲守道德 毋阿權貴

1. Rather stick to moral integrity than be attached to the powerful and influential.

棲守道德者，寂寞一時；依阿①權勢者，淒涼萬古。達人觀物外之物②，思身後之身③；寧受一時之寂寞，毋取萬古之淒涼。

【注 釋】

① 依阿：依附討好。

② 物外之物：物質之外的東西。此處指精神財富或精神價值。

③ 身後之身：人死後留在世上的名聲。

【今文解譯】

謹守道德的人，也許會寂寞一時；而依附權貴的人，則必然會淒涼一輩子。豁達的人看重的是精神層麵的東西以及自己身後的名聲。所以，他們寧肯忍受寂寞於一時，也不願意淒涼孤寂一輩子。

【English Translation】

Those who stick to their moral integrity might be lonesome for a time. Whereas, those who cling to the powerful and influential will surely become desolate for good and all. To a well-cultivated person, the worthiest are the gains beyond material and the name after him. It is because of this that he had rather endure momentary loneliness than receive endless desolation.