荀子《劝学》翻译

学,不可以已。

Learning is a course that should not have an end.

故木受绳而直,金就砺则利,君子博学而日参省乎己,则知明而行无过矣。

Wood can be straight after being straightened, metal can be sharp after being forged, meanwhile, a good man can be wise in both the mind and the behavior if he learns extensively and reflect about himself everyday.

吾尝终日而思矣,不如须臾之所学也;吾尝跻而望矣,不如登高之博见也。

I had been thinking all day, while I found that I gained less than that when I study for a moment; I had tiptoed and tried to look far, while I found I look farther and wider when I climb high.

假舆马者,非利足也,而致千里;假舟楫者,非能水也,而绝江河。君子生非异也,善假于物也。

Those that take carts and horses can go thousands of li, it's not because that they have good feet.  Those that take boats and ships can travel through rivers, it's not because that they could swim in water.  Clever people don't have super powers, it's just that they could use tools well. 

故不积跬步,无以至千里;不积小流,无以成江海。骐骥一跃,不能十步;驽马十驾,功在不舍。锲而舍之,朽木不折;锲而不舍,金石可镂。

So you can't go a thousand li without making one small step; Rivers and seas won't be there if they do not accommodate small strands of water. The best horse cannot go ten steps within only one hop; A fiery steed can go ten li because it never stops going forward.  If you try to chop a piece of rotten wood and you gave up, then it won't break.  If you chop on and on, you could even sculpt metal and stones.

蚓无爪牙之利,筋骨之强,上食埃土,下饮黄泉,用心一也。蟹六跪而二螯,非蛇蟮之穴无可寄托者,用心躁也。

Earthworms don't have sharp teeth or claws, nor do they have strong bones or muscles,but it can dwell in the earth, eat dirt upward and drink water downward.  That's because of its perseverance.  While crab has two giant chelas and six other feet, but it can only live in snakes' caves, that's because it spares little effort on digging.

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