何謂上等人

孔子說(用現代語言演繹):

「何謂上等人，就是看到別人犯錯，自己吸取教訓，不會犯同樣錯，上等人也，普通人很難做到，要聖人才能做到。

何謂中等人，就是自己犯錯，馬上自己反省吸取教訓，不會犯同樣錯，中等人也，所謂知錯能改，每個普通人都能做到。

何謂下等人，就是自己犯錯，重不反省，不吸取教訓，還推委別人，繼續犯同樣錯，下等人也，此種人絕對沒有得救。

 

Confucius said(using modern language),

“What is Top grade people? Those who see others making mistakes, learn from others’ lesion and never make the same mistake again. They are called Top grade people. But it will only take a saint to achieve this, normal people cannot do this.

 

What is Middle grade people? Those who make mistakes themselves, learn from the lesion of the mistakes by themselves through constant review, and never make the same mistake again. They are called Middle grade people. Most of us can achieve this, if they wish to do so.

 

What is Low grade people? Those who make mistakes, never learn from the lesion of their mistake, and continue to make the same mistake again. They are called Low grade people. They are hopeless people! ”

 

 

(Note that I used the word "grade" and not "class". Therefore a person from the lower class can be a Top grade person or Middle grade person in the eyes of Confucius.)