第73章 宁默毋躁 宁拙毋巧

Rather keep silence than act on impulse;and rather look dull than clever.

十语九中，未必称奇，一语不中，则愆尤骈集[1]；十谋九成，未必归功，一谋不成，则訾议[2]丛兴。君子所以宁默毋躁，宁拙毋巧。

中文注释

[1]愆尤骈集：愆尤，过失和罪过。此处引申为指责。骈集，接二连三而至。

[2]訾议：诋毁他人的言论。

今文解译

十句话有九句说到点子上，这不足为奇；只要有一句话说不到位，众人便会横加指责，不依不饶。十条计策有九条奏效，这未必讨得了好；只要有一条计策失败，诋毁的声音就会此起彼伏，不绝于耳。这就是为什么君子宁可缄默也不鼓噪多言、宁可笨拙也不自作聪明的缘故。

EngIish TransIation

You will not necessarily be praised for your prophetic vision even if nine of your ten remarks turn out to be correct.But once you make one incorrect remark,you will be universally condemned.By the same token,you will not necessarily be commended for your brilliance even if you mastermind ten schemes,out of which nine prove effective.But once you put up one ineffective scheme,you will have to face numerous accusing fingers.That is why the accomplished man would rather keep silence than have a loose tongue,and rather look dull than clever.