整理/余冰玥 制圖/張玉佳
前事不忘,后事之師
過去的事情不能忘記,它可作為以后行事的借鑒。“前事”即過去的事,亦即歷史;“后事”即后來的事,亦即現(xiàn)在和未來;“師”即效法、借鑒。其深層含義在于提醒人們要從歷史中吸取經(jīng)驗教訓,以此作為后來的參照或借鑒。
Past Experience, If Not Forgotten, Is a Guide for the Future.
This concept is meant to remind people of the need to learn from past experience and make it a guide for the future. In ancient China great importance was attached to writing history and thus historiography experienced great progress.
引例
臣觀成事,聞往古,天下之美同,臣主之權(quán)均之能美,未之有也。前事之不忘,后事之師。(《戰(zhàn)國策·趙策一》)(我考察古往今來發(fā)生的事情,發(fā)現(xiàn)普天之下美的東西總是相同的,但臣下與君主權(quán)勢均等而能和美相處的,這種事情從來也沒出現(xiàn)過。過去的事情不能忘記,它可作為以后行事的借鑒。)
Citation
In observing past events and learning of ancient times, I have found that the good things in the world are always the same, but it has never occurred that when a sovereign and his officials have had equal power, they can still live harmoniously. We should not forget past experience, but instead use it as a guide for the future. (Strategies of the Warring States)