Steer a boat dexterously 操舟若神

Once Yan Yuan asked his mentor¹ Confucius why those who are good at swimming or diving can learn how to steer² a boat very quickly.

 

Confucius said, "It is because those who are good at swimming do not fear water when they are in it. Those who are good at diving regard abysms（深远） just as land and hills. They can handle any dangerous situation with ease. This kind of people is undaunted（勇敢的） at any place. In gambling³, when person chips in his tiles he sometimes wins. When he chips in his sliver⁴ hook, his mind is in dread⁵. When he chips in his gold, he feels dizzy and has fear in his mind. This is because he values worldly possessions too much Thus, those who think too much of worldly possessions must have clumsy thoughts."

 

有一次，颜渊问老师孔子为什么善于游泳和善于潜水的人可以很快学好驾船的技术。

 

孔子说：“这是因为善于游泳的人虽然身在水中却不把水看得可怕，善于潜水的人把深渊也只看成丘陵陆地，他们面对各种危险情形，都应付自如。这样的人无论在什么地方都会自然无畏。同样一个人，在赌博时，用瓦片下注往往可以巧中，用银钩下注就心存畏惧，用黄金下注就会头脑发昏，这是因为他看重身外之物而有所顾惜、心怀畏惧。”

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