作者: 湖畔呓语

博客地址：http://johnlakeshore.my.24en.com

一语习译：俭者寿 （上海复旦竞译趣题）

Interesting topics for Translation posted by Fu-Dan Univ. Shanghai

现在，人们对长寿的追求恐怕是近百年来的高峰期。冬补什么，夏补什么，头头是道。其实，还有一条长寿之道，述者甚少，那就是：不补！不仅不补，而且平常也不用吃得太好。

At present,(nowadays) people's pursuit to the longevity has been to the utmost, or hit the highest in recent hundred years. What’s the best winter’s diet, how to eat healthy for the summer; clichés' could end nowhere. However, the simplest way to keep fit, nevertheless is quite beyond normal inclination and unique to some extend, No need to diet 'healthy or nutritiously' but eat simple; and there is no need to eat too "well" either.

明代有个徐榜，他就主张：俭者寿。他说：“人之受用，自有剂量，省啬淡泊，有长久之理，可以养寿”。意思是说，节省一点，可以活得长。他这话是在讲节俭的好处时说的。他讲节俭可以养神那一条，同样有利于长寿。他说：“醉浓饱鲜，昏人神智，若蔬食菜羹，则肠胃清虚，无渣无秽，可养神也。”这是很有道理的。

Ming dynasty, China, a gentleman named Xu-Pang once called, who lives simpler who lives longer; He said, 'human's daily consumption has its limits; live the way simple and plain has long-term effect on ones health, eventually, leads to longevity'; of which, we understand if the modest living style leads to longer life; it was said when he mentioning the benefit of being modesty; when comes to the spiritual life, he added it has worked same as to keep simpler life style as to live longer and healthy; he noted " none devour on food extravagantly or drink the finest everyday, better than just plain diet on ordinary soups and vegetables. Not like the former (earlier-mentioned) makes you lazy and dizzy, but the later keeps your body clean and your mind and spirit nurtured and vitalized. Quite convincing, isn’t it ?

一说俭，有人认为那是穷人的事。这话正确的成分不到一半。穷人固然要俭，而那富人更应该俭。富而俭那才谈得上高尚。荣毅仁是穷是富大概是不用介绍了。荣氏几十年如一日坚持纸张用两面。在当了共和国副主席以后也是这样。他拒不游山玩水，就是怕副主席出游，兴师动众，花钱太多。官员都知道四菜一汤谓之俭，很少有人知道荣副主席在家吃饭常常不到四菜。俭，是高节；俭，也是荣毅仁活到九十多岁的一个原因。

People has a notion that modesty and thrifty related to poverty, it is true on one side of the coin; (only by half); surely one should be economical when not wealthy, however, the riches should do so even more. Gentleman Rong-Yi-Ren, named as 'Red-Capitalist' in China has nothing to worry in any term of materially wealth, nevertheless, he held his habits of using the papers both sides, even when he went to the power as deputy president of the republic; other than trips on governmental expenses which he refused as to save cost, his diet was simply less than 'four course' as standardized for any official highly ranked, of which, a life detail known to very few. So, being thrifty and savvy, is the highest virtue and elegance; thus as exampled the secret same for his living up to 90 years more of age.

@@一语湖边，

A translated note to an interesting post in 沪江in May 07,

Thursday, May 24, 2007