防微杜漸 Taking Precautions Early
把差錯、問題等消滅在萌芽狀態(tài)?!拔ⅰ奔措[微、不明,指事物尚處于不易被察覺的潛在狀態(tài);“漸”即征兆、跡象,指事物剛露出苗頭,正緩慢滋長。猶言“防患于未然”。任何事物都有一個由隱而顯、由小變大的過程,其間還可能引發(fā)其他連鎖反應(yīng)。對于差錯、問題等,如果不做好提前防范,及時堵塞各種漏洞,待其大勢已成,可能會付出成倍的代價,甚至?xí)劤扇中詾?zāi)難。它要求人們深刻認(rèn)識并精準(zhǔn)把握事物演變的內(nèi)在規(guī)律。
This term can also be translated as "nipping the problem in the bud." Hidden or inconspicuous things are not easily discovered. But there are always warning signs, indications of something newly emerged, slowly developing. All things evolve from hidden to obvious, from small to big, and in time they may lead to harmful consequences. If early steps are not taken to prevent mistakes and problems and to eliminate any defects in time, it will be costly to deal with the consequences, and even disaster may ensue. Thus, people should gain a deep understanding and good grasp of what underlies the evolution of things.
引例 Citations:
◎賞刑者,人君之大柄,不可以假人。所以防微杜漸,消逆亂于未然也。(《資治通鑒·晉紀(jì)·晉紀(jì)十八》)
獎賞與懲罰是君主手中的兩大權(quán)力,不能交給別人掌管。這是君主防微杜漸、將禍亂消滅在萌芽狀態(tài)的保障。
Rewarding and punishment are two powerful means which the ruler will not concede to others. This enables him to eliminate disasters in bud. (History as a Mirror)
◎病之始生,淺則易治;久而深入,則難治?!秲?nèi)經(jīng)》云:“圣人不治已病,治未病?!保ㄐ齑蟠弧夺t(yī)學(xué)源流論·防微論》)
病情剛發(fā)生時,不嚴(yán)重,容易治;拖久了,病情加重,就難治了。正如《黃帝內(nèi)經(jīng)》上所說:“圣明的人不是在發(fā)病后才施治,而是在發(fā)病前就已經(jīng)施治。”
An incipient and light illness is easy to cure. However, prolonged illness is difficult to cure. As said in The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, the sage begins treatment before, not after, there is serious illness. (Xu Dachun: The Origin and Development of Illnesses)
推薦:教育部 國家語委
供稿:北京外國語大學(xué) 外語教學(xué)與研究出版社
責(zé)任編輯:錢耐安