《中庸》英译（十）

子路问强。子曰：“南方之强与？北方之强与？抑而强与？宽柔以教，不报无道，南方之强也，君子居之；衽金革，死而不厌，北方之强也，而强者居之。故君子和而不流，强哉矫！中立而不倚，强哉矫！国有道，不变塞焉，强哉矫！国无道，至死不变，强哉矫！”

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X.

Tzu-lu asked what constituted force of character.

Confucius said, “Do you mean force of character of the people of the southern countries or force of character of the people of the northern countries; or do you mean force of character in an absolute sense? To be patient and gentle, ready to teach, returning not evil for evil: that is the force of character of the people of the southern countries. It is the ideal of the moral man.”

“To lie under arms and meet death without regret; that is the force of character of the people of the northern countries. It is the ideal of the brave man.”

“But force of character in an absolute sense is another thing. Wherefore the man with the true force of moral character is one who is easy and accommodating and yet without weakness or indiscrimination. How unflinchingly firm he is in his strength! He is independent without any bias. How un- flinchingly firm he is in his strength! When there is moral social order in the country, if he enters public life, he does not change from what he was when in retirement. When there is no moral social order in the country he holds on his way without changing even unto death. How unflinchingly firm he is in his strength!”