英文:

Once a group of people sat in a house commenting on someone as being of good virtue except for two faults: first, he was quick- tempered. second, he was impulsive.

At the time, this man happened to pass by the door and heard the comment. he entered the house, grabbed the man who had criticized him, and started to beat him.

Thereupon one bystander asked why he beat the man.

He replied, "when did i ever lose my temper or act impulsively? this man said: i often did so. that's why i have beaten him."

The bystander pointed out, "your action at once demonstrates that you have often lost your temper and acted impulsively. why do you still want to conceal your character from others?"

This man who resents to having his faults exposed, often leads people to lay all the blame for the stupidity and foolishness on him.

People, who are addicted to drinking and other debaucheries, when scolded by others, strongly hate their critics in turn. moreover, they try desperately to justify themselves by bringing forward all sorts of excuses. those men are just like that stupid man who disliked hearing about his faults discussed.

古文:

过去有人,共多人众,坐于屋中,叹一外人德行极好,唯有二过:一者喜嗔,二者作事仓卒。

尔时此人过在门外,闻作是语,更生嗔恚,即入其屋,擒彼道己愚恶之人,以手打扑。

旁人问言:“何故打也?”

其人答言:“我曾何时喜嗔、仓卒?而此人者道,我恒喜嗔恚,作事仓卒。是故打之。”

旁人语言:“汝今喜嗔、仓卒之相,即时现验,云何讳之?”

人说过恶而起怨责,深为众人怪其愚惑。

譬如世间饮酒之夫,耽荒酗酒,作诸放逸,见人呵责,返生尤疾。苦引证作,用自明白。若此愚人,讳闻己过,见他道说,反欲扑打之。

译文:

过去有个人,和许多人坐在屋里,称赞一个当时不在屋里的人品行很好,只是有两个毛病:一是喜欢发火,二是做事欠考虑。正巧这个被议论的人从门口路过,听到这话,立即发怒,冲进屋里,抓住那个说自己毛病的人,动手就打。旁边的人问他道:“为什么打人?”那人回答说:“我什么时候喜欢发火而且做事仓卒呢?而这个人说我总是喜欢发火愤怒,做事情欠考虑,所以打他。”旁边的人说:“现在你喜欢发火而且做事欠考虑的样子已经表现出来了,又为何忌讳别人指出呢?”别人一旦指出过失,就产生怨恨责难的人,难免会使大家怪他愚昧无知。

这就好比世上的酒徒,整日沉溺在杯酒之中,恣情放纵。一旦别人指责,反而产生责怪和怨恨,而且会极力为自己的行为辩解。这样就像愚昧的人忌讳旁人指出自己的过错,听见别人议论,反而动手打人的道理一样。