汉英对照《增广贤文》（20-40）

Too many mouths cannot debate easily,
A single hand cannot clap.
If a fight is given up on the battle field,
The troops will still be dispatched.
Four ounces can conquer five hundred kilogrammes,
Mere fatness can cover up a hundred ugly points.
If you have no disease,
Do not dislike the fact that you are thin;
If you can live in safety,
Your poverty should not make you complain.
It is impossible to be satisfied with everything,
That is a lofty realm
If you can keep from feeling ashamed.
Predestined poor people
Cannot become rich from extra gain,
Grass without roots cannot be moistened by rain.

慢藏诲盗，
冶容诲淫。
偏听则暗，
兼听则明。
耳闻是虚，
眼见是实。
一犬吠影，
百犬吠声。
莫信直中直，
须防仁不仁。
虎生犹可近，
人毒不堪亲。
来说是非者，
便是是非人。
世路由他险，
居心任我平。
惺惺常不足，
懵懵作公卿。
遍身绮罗者，
不是养蚕人。

Not keeping one's things well
Equals encouraging stealing,
Coquettish in make-up
Equals inviting flirtation.
Listening to all sides
Makes one see the truth of everything.
What one hears can be doubted,
What one sees can be believed.
A shade can make a dog bark,
Which can then make a hundred dogs bark.
Do not fall victim to the sincerity of frankness,
Guard against the real intentions of benevolence.
Approaching a stranger tiger
Is safer than getting on close terms
With vicious men.
One who gossips about rights and wrongs
Must have his selfish intentions.
The more risky the word roads become,
The calmer your heart should remain.
Clever people are often victims
Of their own cleverness,
Ignorant people are often in high positions.
People in beautiful silk garments
Never belong to those who raise silkworms.

毋私小惠而伤大体，
毋借公论而快私情。
毋以已长而形人之短，
毋因已拙而忌人之能。
勿恃势力而凌逼孤寡，
勿贪口腹而恣杀牲禽。
倚势凌人，
势败人凌我；
穷巷追狗，
巷穷狗咬人。
见色而起淫心，
报在妻女；
匿怨而用暗箭，
祸延子孙。

Do not cause any damage to the whole
For the sake of a small bounty,
Do not do yourself favours
By pretending to cater to publicity.
Do not envy others' capabilities
Because of your dullness,
Do not contrast others' shortcoming
With your advantages.
Do not rely on any power
To bully the lonely,
Do not willfully kill beasts and birds
For your mouth and belly.
If you pursue a dog to a blind alley,
The dog will turn back to bite you
When meeting the end;
If you rely on some power to bully others,
The bullied will retaliate
When your power diminishes.
If you want to satisfy your sexual desires
With other women who attract you,
The rewards will be given
To your wife or daughters;
If you hide your grudges against others
And stab them in the back,
From you
Your descendants will receive catastrophes.

先到为君，
后到为臣。
莫道君行早，
更有早行人。
灭却心头火，
剔起佛前灯。
平日不作亏心事，
半夜敲门心不惊。
牡丹花好空入目，
枣花虽小结实成。

One who comes early is a leader,
One who comes late is soldier.
There must be some people
Who set out earlier than you,
Do not say that you are an early starter.
If you want to put out a fire of desire
In your heart,
Light up a lamp in front of Buddha.
If you have done nothing
That troubles your conscience,
You should not be frightened
By a midnight door-knock.
Date flowers can bear fruit
Although they are small,
Peony flowers are useless
Although they are beautiful.