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总叙
Preface Outline
弟子规.圣人训.
These are the rules for being a student
Handed down to us by Ancient Sages.
Standards for Being a Good Student and Child is a book that
was taught by Chinese saints and sages of the ancient past.
首孝弟.次谨信.
First be filial to your own parents
And respectful to all of your elders.
The book first teaches us how to be dutiful to your parents,and how to be respectful and loving to our siblings.
It then teaches us how to be cautious with all people,matters,and things in our daily life,and how to be a trustworthy person; and to believe in the teachings of the ancient saints and sages.
泛爱众.而亲仁.
Be trustworthy,cautious and kind,
And draw near to those who are good.
Furthermore,it teaches us to love all equally,
and to be close to and learn from people of virtue and compassion.
有余力.则学文.
Whatever time you have left
Should be devoted to learning.
Only when we have accomplished all the above
can we then study further and learn literature and art to improve the quality of our cultural and spiritual lives.
