子曰，古者，民有三疾，今也或是之亡也。古之狂也肆，今之狂也荡，古之矜也廉，今之矜也忿戾，古之愚也直，今之愚也诈而已矣。
Modern Chinese Guide
孔子说：古时候的人有三种毛病，如今恐怕连这三种毛病也变样了。古时候的狂放是不拘小节，如今的狂放却是放荡越礼；古时候的矜持是方正不苟，如今的矜持却是恼怒蛮横；古时候的愚直是直率坦白，如今的愚却是欺诈罢了。
James Legge Translation
1. The Master said, "Anciently, men had three failings, which now perhaps are not to be found. 2. "The high-mindedness of antiquity showed itself in a disregard of small things; the high-mindedness of the present day shows itself in wild license. The stern dignity of antiquity showed itself in grave reserve; the stern dignity of the present day shows itself in quarrelsome perverseness. The stupidity of antiquity showed itself in straightforwardness; the stupidity of the present day shows itself in sheer deceit."
Source: James Legge, public domain, 1893.
Notes
- 底本：Wikisource 整理的 James Legge《The Chinese Classics》公版中英文本（1893–1895）。
- 简体化：原文由繁体转为简体（OpenCC），与公版英译逐句对应。