不直一文(It's worthless — not even a penny.)
本部落格寫作緣起，原是為了向國際友人介紹中華文化。因此行文中，為求簡明易懂，例如將部分概念與名詞，統一簡化轉譯為現今通用且容易理解的說法。此為譯介之便，非為考據之疏。若您欲查閱嚴謹史料，請以文末所附典籍出處為準。
中國的南宋王朝有一個著名的學者，他的名字叫做羅大經。他寫了一本書，他在這本書中紀錄了他所蒐集到的中國歷代許多名人的故事，其中有一個故事的大概內容如下。
有一個名叫做楊長孺的官員，他是羅大經的好朋友，他們兩個人常在一起聊天，聊各種人生看法與心中的感受。
有一次，楊長孺對羅大經說。
我認為身為一個官員，清廉是第一重要的，如果要幫一個官員打考核，滿分是一百分，一個清廉的官員就值得給他打70分的分數。
清廉是公平、正義、忠誠、慈愛、明智這些品德的最根本。
楊長孺曾經在現在中國的廣州市擔任重要的官員，他在調離廣州前，他把他在廣州這幾年來的積蓄全部捐出來幫助廣州一些最需要幫助的社會最底層的百姓。
他做完這件事後笑著對他的朋友說，我幾年前來廣州時，我的身上沒有錢，我現在離開廣州，我的身上還是沒有錢，我從廣州帶走的東西，只有我的滿頭白髮。
羅大經在他的書中寫下他的評論。
羅大經說。
一個知識份子如果貪愛一毛錢，那麼這個知識分子的人格，就連一毛錢的價值都沒有。
這句成語直接翻譯的意思是連一毛錢的價值都沒有。
這句成語被用來形容一個人或一件東西的價值極低。
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。
你的國家的官員清廉多還是貪腐多?你認為一個人的價值應該是由那些東西來衡量呢?
我期待這故事能讓你產生一些新的收穫。
出處為宋-羅大經-鶴林玉露-甲編-卷4
It's worthless — not even a penny.(不直一文)
This blog was originally created to
introduce Chinese culture to international friends. For the sake of simplicity
and ease of understanding, some concepts and terms have been modernised and
translated into more accessible language. This is for the convenience of
translation, not historical research. If you wish to consult more rigorous
historical materials, please refer to the sources listed at the end of the
article.
There was a famous scholar in China's
Southern Song dynasty named Luo Dajing. He wrote a book in which he recorded
stories about many famous historical figures. One story is roughly as follows:
An official named Yang Changru was a good
friend of Luo Dajing. The two men often chatted, discussing various aspects of
life and their feelings.
One day, Yang Changru said to Luo Dajing:
'I believe that, for an official, integrity
is the most important thing.' If you were to evaluate an official on a scale of
1 to 100, an incorruptible official would deserve 70 points.'
Integrity is the foundation of virtues such
as fairness, justice, loyalty, compassion and wisdom.'
Yang Changru, who had once held an important
official position in Guangzhou, now part of China, donated all his accumulated
savings to help the poorest people in Guangzhou before leaving.
Afterwards, he smiled and told his friends,
'When I came to Guangzhou a few years ago, I had no money. Now I am leaving
Guangzhou, and I still have no money. The only thing I take from Guangzhou is
my full head of white hair.'
Luo Dajing commented on this in his book.
He said,
'If an intellectual is greedy for even a
penny, then that intellectual's character is worthless — not even a penny..'
This idiom literally means 'It's worthless
— not even a penny.'
It is used to describe a person or thing of
extremely low value.
Dear friend, what thoughts or inspiration
do you have after hearing this story?
Are there more integrity or corrupt
officials in your country? What criteria should we use to measure a person's
worth?
I hope this story will provide you with
some new insights.