三○、原其初心 觀其末路

30. To judge a man is to look into his initial intention; and to comment on a man is to examine his integrity in his later years.

事窮勢蹙之人，當原其初心；功成行滿之士，要觀其末路。

【今文解譯】

當一個人事業受挫、處境落魄時，我們應當看他開始做事時的初心究竟是怎樣的。

當一個人事業有成、功德圓滿時，我們應當觀察他能否將這個勢頭一直保持到最後。

【English Translation】

To judge a man who has suffered failure and is now down and out, it is better to look into his original intentions at the outset.

To comment on a man who has come to a successful issue, it is better to examine if he can maintain his success to the end of his life.