管子语录 汉英双解

【原文】准也者，五量之宗也；素也者，五色之质也；淡也者，五味之中也。是以水者，万物之准也，诸生之淡也，违非得失之质也，是以无不满，无不居也，集于天地而藏于万物，产于金石，集于诸生，故曰水神。《水地》

【汉解】如果说，准是五种量器的根据，素是五种颜色的基础，淡是五种味道的中心，那么，水便是万物的“根据”，一切生命的“中心”，一切是非得失的基础。所以，水是没有不可以被它充满的东西，也没有不可以让它停留的地方。它可以聚集在天空和地上，包藏在万物的内部，产生于金石中间，又集合在一切生命的身上。所以说，水比于神。

【英译】The water level is first among the five measures. Neutral color is the base for the five colors. Neutral taste is the mean for the five tastes. For this reason water is the level for all things. The quality of tranquility in all life, and the quality of neutrality between right and wrong, gain and loss. For this reason there is no place it does not fill, no place it does not occupy. It collects in the heaven and on earth. It is stored in all things, produced from metal and stone, and collected in all forms of life. Therefore it is said:”Water is a divine spirit.”