Persuasion Meng Jiao original text and translation

Original text:

Exhortation to Learning Meng Jiao [Tang Dynasty]

Strike the stone and there is a fire, but do not strike the Yuan no smoke.

Man learns before he knows, not learning is unnatural.

All things must be realized by oneself, but not by me.

Youth must be early, can't be long young man.

Translation and notes:

Translation:

Only by striking a stone will there be a spark; if not, not even a little smoke will come out.

The same is true of man; only by learning can he acquire knowledge; if he does not learn, knowledge will not fall from the sky.

Anything must be practiced by oneself; knowledge gained by others cannot replace one's own talents.

Youthful young period should take advantage of the early efforts, a person can always be "young"?

Note

Nai: talent.

Yuan: originally, originally.

Beginning: square.

Dao: the law of things, laws. Here it refers to all kinds of knowledge.

Not: not.

Natural: natural.

Operation: application.

Xian: talent.

Youth: the period of a person's youth.

Wouldn't: does.

Long: for a long time.

Counseling Learning Appreciation:

Counseling Learning, as the opening work of Xunzi, is a prose essay discussing the importance of learning and counseling people to learn with the right purpose, attitude and method. The essay is based on the theory of simple materialism, and is cited in a variety of ways.