175,凡人之情,见利莫能勿就,见害莫能勿避

管子语录 汉英双解

【原文】夫凡人之情,见利莫能勿就,见害莫能勿避。其商人通贾,倍道兼行,夜以续日,千里而不远者,利在前也。渔人之入海,海深万仞,就波逆流乘危百里,宿夜不出者,利在水也。故利之所在,虽千仞之山无所不上,深源之下,无所不入焉。《禁藏》

【汉解】凡人之常情,见利没有不追求的,见害没有不想躲避的。商人做买卖,一天赶两天的路,夜以继日,千里迢迢而不以为远,是因为利在前面。渔人下海,海深万仍,在那里逆流冒险,航行百里,昼夜都不出来,是因为利在水中。所以,利之所在,即使干仍的高山,人们也要上;即使深渊之下,人们也愿意进去。

【英译】Indeed, it is the nature of men that whenever they see profit, they cannot help chasing after it, and whenever they see harm, they cannot help running away. When the merchant engages in trade and travels twice the ordinary distance in a day, uses the night to extend the day, and covers a thousand li without considering it too far, it is because profit lies ahead. When the fisherman puts out to sea, the sea may be ten thousand –ren deep, and when he heads into its waves and struggles against its tides, raises his small mast and sails out a hundred li, never leaving the water from morning to night, it is because profit lies in the water. Thus, wherever profit lies, even though it be atop a thousand-ren peak, there is no place people will not climb. Even though it is at the bottom of the deepest depth, there is no place people will not enter.