四一、不可濃豔 不可枯寂

41. In everyday life, one should be neither too particular nor too casual-minded.

念頭濃者①，自待厚，待人亦厚，處處皆濃；念頭淡者②，自待薄，待人亦薄，事事皆淡。故君子居常嗜好，不可太濃豔，亦不宜太枯寂。

【注 釋】

① 念頭濃者：凡事總圖個講究的人。

② 念頭淡者：凡事皆不講究的人。

【今文解譯】

做事上心的人，善待自己，也善待別人，做什麼都十分講究，非盡善盡美不肯罷休；做事不上心的人，對自己馬虎，對別人也馬虎，做什麼都隨隨便便，心不在焉。由此我們得以明白：君子平素的喜好，既不可太過講究，也不可太不講究。

【English Translation】

A man striving for exquisiteness has a habit to be considerate towards himself and towards others as well; wherever he goes, he intends to go in an exquisite manner. Whereas, a casual-minded man has a habit to be indifferent to himself and to others as well; whatever he does, he just does it with casualness. Therefore, a smart gentleman should be neither too particular about exquisiteness nor too casual-minded in his daily life and personal addictions.