1. 释义：只要是利益他人的事情，就要坚持做下去；只要是不利于别人的事情，就要马上停止不做。

1. Interpretation: As long as it is a matter that benefits others, one should persevere in doing it; as long as it is a matter that is detrimental to others, one should immediately stop and not do it.

2. 夫尚贤者，政之本也。

2. The cultivation of the worthy is the essence of government.

3. 上之为政，得下之情则治，不得下之情则乱。

3. In governing from above, if one understands the sentiments of the people below, the state will be governed well; if one does not understand the sentiments of the people below, the state will be in chaos.

4. 有能则举之，无能则下之。

4. Promote those who are capable and demote those who are not.

5. 非不重其国、爱其身也，以不知要故也。不知要者，所染不当也。

5. It is not that they do not value their country or love their own bodies, but because they do not know the essentials. Not knowing the essentials means that the influences they are exposed to are inappropriate.

6. 释义：如果没有储备武器，即使拥有真理和正义，也无法去征讨那些不义之人。

6. Interpretation: Even if one possesses truth and justice, it is impossible to subdue the unjust without储备 weapons.

7. 钓者之恭，非为鱼赐也；饵鼠以虫，非爱之也。

7. The humility of a fisherman is not because of the fish he is granted; using insects to lure a mouse is not because he loves it.

8. 释义：读书人虽然有学问，但只有知行合一，把学问付诸于生活实践，才是最根本的。否则的话，就是《弟子规》上讲的“不力行，但学文，长浮华，成何人”了。

8. Interpretation: Although scholars have knowledge, only when they integrate knowledge with action, applying their knowledge to practical life, is this the most fundamental. Otherwise, as stated in "The Precepts for Disciples," it would be "Not practicing diligently, but only studying literature, becoming superficial and ornate, and becoming what kind of person?"

9. 慧者心辩而不繁说，多力而不伐功，此以名誉扬天下。

9. The wise man has discerning thoughts but does not indulge in verbose speech, is strong but does not boast of his achievements. It is through this that his reputation is spread throughout the world.

10. 不党父兄，不偏贵富，不嬖颜色。

10. Not biased towards their father and elder brothers, not partial to the rich and the powerful, and not smitten by beauty.

11. 天下从事者，不可以无法仪，无法仪而其事能成者，无有也。?>

11. Those who engage in the world's affairs cannot do without proper decorum. There is no case where someone can achieve their goals without adhering to proper decorum.

12. 释义：很多时候，我们都需要面对选择。如果都有好处，就要取其中好处最大的；如果都有害处，就取其中害处最小的。

12. Interpretation: Many times, we need to face choices. If all have benefits, we should choose the one with the greatest benefit; if all have drawbacks, we should choose the one with the least harm.

13. 老而无妻子者，有所侍养，以终其寿；幼弱孤童之无父母者，有所放依，以长其身。

13. Those who are old and childless, but have someone to support them, will be able to live out their days; and those who are young, weak, and orphaned without parents, will find a place to rely on and grow up.

14. 释义：意志不坚强的人，智慧也不会高到哪里去；说话不算数的人，做事也不会果敢痛快。

14. Interpretation: Those with weak wills won't possess much intelligence; those who can't keep their word won't act with decisiveness or promptness.

15. 故古者圣人之所以济事成功，垂名于后世者，无他故异物焉，曰：唯能以尚同为政者也。

15. Therefore, the reason why ancient sages were able to achieve success in their undertakings and leave a name for posterity was not due to any other extraordinary factors, but rather, it was because they were the ones who could govern with the highest respect for equality.

16. 赖其力者生，不赖其力者不生。

16. Those who rely on their strength will survive, but those who do not rely on their strength will not survive.

17. 释义：操办丧事，虽然礼仪繁多，但表达哀悼之情，才是最根本的。

17. Interpretation: Although there are many rituals in handling funerals, expressing the sentiment of mourning is the most fundamental.

18. 释义：如果行善不是发自内心，那就不会长久。比如被捐款、被做义工等等，都是一锤子买卖，因为不是他自愿的。

18. Interpretation: If doing good is not from the heart, it will not last long. For example, being donated to, doing volunteer work, etc., are all one-off deals because it is not voluntary.

19. 听其言，迹其行，察其所能而慎予官。

19. Listen to their words, trace their actions, observe their abilities, and cautiously grant them office.

20. 染于苍则苍，染于黄则黄。

20. It turns blue when dyed with indigo, and turns yellow when dyed with yellow.

21. 甘井近竭，招木近伐，灵龟近灼，神蛇近暴。

21. The well nears exhaustion, the tree nears being cut down, the spirit turtle nears scorching, and the divine snake nears ferocity.

22. 释义君子不用水来当镜子，而是拿别人来当镜子。用水当镜子可以看到的是容貌，用人当镜子则可以知道吉凶对错。

22. Interpretation: A gentleman does not use water as a mirror; instead, he uses others as a mirror. Using water as a mirror allows one to see their appearance, but using others as a mirror can reveal one's fortune, misfortune, and right or wrong.

23. 言则称于汤文，行则譬于狗豨。

23. In words, he speaks eloquently of the virtue of Tang Wen, but in action, he is likened to a dog or a pig.

24. 释义爱别人的，别人也必然爱他，利于别人的，别人也必然利于他，憎恶别人的，别人也必然憎恶他，残害别人的，别人也必然残害他。

24. He who loves others will be loved in return, he who does good to others will be repaid with good, he who hates others will be hated in return, and he who harms others will be harmed in return.

25. 释义：你送给我桃子，我就回报给你李子。意思是做人要知恩图报，不能忘恩负义。也比喻礼尚往来，相互赠送礼物。

25. Interpretation: If you give me peaches, I will return you with plums. This means that one should know how to repay kindness and not forget gratitude. It also metaphorically suggests that when it comes to gifts and courtesies, they should be reciprocated.

26. 天下之人皆相爱，则强不执弱，众不劫寡。

26. If all people in the world love each other, the strong will not oppress the weak, and the many will not seize the few.

27. 释义：无论是个人还是国家，只要生活节俭，就会繁荣昌盛；如果贪图享受，放纵欲望，那就会走向衰亡。

27. Interpretation: Whether for individuals or nations, prosperity and success will follow from a thrifty lifestyle; but indulgence in pleasures and the unrestrained pursuit of desires will lead to decline.

28. 备者，国之重也。食者，国之宝也；兵者，国之爪也；城者，所以自守也。此三者国之具也。

28. The reserve is a crucial element of the state. Food is the treasure of the state; military forces are the claws of the state; cities are for self-defense. These three are the necessary tools of the state.

29. 名不可简而成也，誉不可巧而立也，君子以身戴行者也。

29. A name cannot be simplified into existence, and a reputation cannot be established through cunning. A gentleman upholds conduct through his actions.

30. 无言而不信，不德而不报，投我以桃，报之以李。

30. No word is spoken without trust, no virtue is practiced without recompense. If you offer me a peach, I will repay you with a plum.

31. 天之行广而无私，其施厚而不德，其明久而不衰，故圣王法之。

31. The path of heaven is vast and无私, its benevolence is profound and not boastful, its brightness is enduring and does not fade, hence the sage kings follow it.

32. 天下兼相爱则治，相恶则乱。

32. If all under heaven love each other, there will be harmony; if they dislike each other, there will be chaos.

33. 杀人者死，伤人者刑。

33. The killer dies, and the injurer is punished.

34. 有力者疾以助人，有财者勉以分人，有道者劝以教人。

34. The strong hasten to help others, the wealthy endeavor to share with others, and the wise persuade others through teaching.

35. 夫爱人者，人必从而爱之；利人者，人必从而利之；恶人者，人必从而恶之；害人者，人必从而害之。

35. If one loves others, others will follow and love them in return; if one benefits others, others will follow and benefit them; if one dislikes others, others will follow and dislike them; if one harms others, others will follow and harm them.

36. 食者国之宝也，兵者国之爪也。

36. Food is the treasure of a land, while soldiers are the claws of a nation.

37. 天欲人之相爱相利，而不欲人之相恶相贼也。

37. Heaven desires that people should love and benefit each other, but does not wish that they should hate and harm each other.