jūn zǐ yì yǐ wéi zhì 君子义以为质
Righteousness Is Essential for a Person of Virtue.
君子以义作为行事的根本原则。“君子”指地位尊贵或才德出众的人,“义”即道义、正义及其衍生出来的社会规范与责任;“质”即根本、本质。此语揭示了精英阶层的本质规定性在于道义担当与社会责任。
A person of virtue takes righteousness as a fundamental principle to guide his or her acts. A “person of virtue” refers to dignitaries or persons with great talent or moral quality. Righteousness means morality and justice, as well as derivative concepts such as social norms and duties. This concept demonstrates that the qualities of the elite are shown by their righteous acts and social responsibilities.
引例 Citation:
◎子曰:“君子义以为质,礼以行之,孙(xùn)以出之,信以成之。君子哉!”(《论语·卫灵公》)
(孔子说:“君子以义作为行事的根本原则,依照礼制实行道义,以谦逊来表达道义,以诚信来完成道义。这就是君子啊!”)
Confucius said, “A person of virtue takes righteousness as a fundamental principle to guide his acts, practices ethics and justice according to etiquette, demonstrates ethics and justice by way of discreetness, and fulfills ethics and justice in honesty. This is what a person of virtue does.” (The Analects)