四、近紛華而不染 知機巧而不用

四、近紛華而不染 知機巧而不用

4. Not be sullied by extravagance even if close to it nor resort to intrigues even if acquainted with them.

勢利紛華①，不近者為潔，近之而不染者為尤潔；智械機巧，不知者為高，知之而不用者為尤高。

【注 釋】

① 勢利紛華：勢利，權力和財勢；紛華，繁華富麗。二者泛指一切具有誘惑力的物質。

【今文解譯】

權勢和奢華，不去接近的是人品高潔，接近了但不受其影響的，則人品尤為高潔。

計謀和巧詐，不知道的堪稱人品高貴，知道了但從不使用的，人品堪稱尤為高貴。

【English Translation】

It is decent for one not to be close to power, influence and extravagance, the more so for him not to be sullied even if being close to them.

It is noble for one not to be acquainted with intrigues and plots, the more so for him not to resort to them even if having such acquaintances.