Peach and plum trees cannot speak, yet a path naturally forms beneath them from people's footsteps.(桃李不言，下自成蹊)
Peach and plum trees cannot speak, yet a
path naturally forms beneath them from people's footsteps.(桃李不言，下自成蹊)
Sima Qian was China's most eminent
historian. His historical work is one of the most classic books in Chinese
literature.
It is called Records of the Grand Historian
(Shiji).
In it, he wrote biographies of many figures
he deemed worthy of recording. Among them is the story of Li Guang, a famous
Han Dynasty general.
After completing Li Guang's biography, Sima
Qian shared his reflections and comments in the final paragraph.
Two sentences from Confucius's Analects
came to mind after finishing the biography of General Li Guang:
'A person in a high position and of upright
character will have subordinates who trust his words and obey his orders.'
'A person in a high position but of
dishonest character will have subordinates who do not trust his words and
disobey his orders.'
I was fortunate to live in the same era as
General Li Guang and to know him.
He was an honest and kind man, as simple
and straightforward as a countryman. He wasn't eloquent, but he earned people's
trust.
Because of his loyalty, all the soldiers he
led trusted him.
When General Li Guang passed away, everyone
who heard the news was deeply saddened.
There is an ancient Chinese proverb which
literally means that although peach and plum trees cannot speak, yet a path
naturally forms beneath them from people's footsteps..
Why do people tread a path beneath peach
and plum trees? It's because the blossom of the peach and plum trees emits an
alluring fragrance and the fruit is sweet and delicious, attracting people to
pick it.
General Li Guang was like the peach and
plum trees in this proverb: he wasn't eloquent, yet he attracted many people
throughout his life. People liked him and actively approached him, and his
story deserves to be remembered.
This idiom literally translates as 'peach
and plum trees cannot speak, yet a path naturally forms beneath them from
people's footsteps.'
It is used to describe a person who is
sincere and has excellent character. Although they don't boast or promote
themselves, they naturally attract others and earn their respect.
Dear friend, what inspiration or thoughts did you gain from this story?
Have you ever met someone who is very talkative but unreliable? Or someone who is quiet, but whose character draws you in?
I hope this story gives you some new
insights.
桃李不言，下自成蹊(Peach and plum trees cannot
speak, yet a path naturally forms beneath them from people's footsteps.)
司馬遷是中國最傑出的歷史學家。他寫的歷史書是中國最經典的書之一。
這本書的名字叫(史記)。
他在這本書中寫下許多他認為值得記錄的人物的傳記， 這本書中紀錄了一個漢王朝著名的名字叫做李廣的將軍的故事。
司馬遷在寫完李廣的故事之後，他在這一篇傳記的最後一段，寫下自己的感想與評論。
在我寫完李廣將軍的一生的傳記後，我的腦海中浮現出兩句話，這兩句話出自孔夫子的論語這本書中。
一個位居高位而且品行端正的人，他的部下會這個人會信任這個人所說的話並且遵行這個人所發布的命令。
一個位居高位但是品行不端正的人，他的部下不會信任這個人所說的話並且不遵行這個人所發布的命令。
我有幸與李廣將軍生活在同一個時代，我也認識李廣將軍。
李廣將軍是一個非常老實與厚道的人，他就像是一個鄉下人一樣的純樸，他不擅長說話，但是他獲得人們的信任。
因為他具備著忠實的品格，所以他受到了他所領導的所有士兵們的信賴。
李廣將軍過世的那一天，所有聽到這件事的人都感到非常的悲痛。
中國古代有一句諺語，這句諺語的字面意思是桃樹與李樹都不會講話，但這兩種樹下卻會被人們自然地踏出一條小路。
為何人們會在桃樹與李樹下面踏出一條小路呢?其原因就是因為桃樹與李樹的花朵散發出誘人的香氣，桃樹與李樹的果實香甜可口所以吸引許多人去摘取。
李廣將軍就像是這句諺語中的桃樹與李樹，他不擅長說話，他的一生中卻吸引了許多人們，人們喜歡他並且主動接近他，他的故事值得我們所紀念。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是桃樹與李樹都不會講話，但這兩種樹下卻會被人們自然地踏出一條小路。
這句成語被用來形容一個人非常的真誠且有著美好的品格，這個人雖然沒有張揚宣傳自己，但是這個人能夠自然地吸引別人並且獲得別人的尊敬。
親愛的朋友，你聽完這個故事有怎樣的啟發或有怎樣的想法呢。
你有與過那種很會說話但是辦事情很不靠譜的人嗎?你是否遇過這種不說話，但品格吸引你想要親近的人呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為史記-李將軍列傳