和而不同
Harmony But Not Uniformity
在尊重事物差異性和多樣性的基礎上實現整體的和諧共存。“同”與“和”是對待、安頓社會群體的兩種態度。“同”指對事物差異性的抹殺,“和”則意味著對事物差異性的保存與尊重。不同的事物彼此間相互輔助、補充,才能組成一個充滿生機、富于創造性的和諧整體。
The term means achieving overall harmonious co-existence on the basis of respecting differences and diversity. Uniformity and harmony are two different attitudes to treating and accommodating social groups. Uniformity means obliterating differences in everything while harmony is to keep and respect the differences. Allowing different things to complement and supplement each other will create a harmonious whole full of vitality and creativity.
引例 Citations:
◎夫和實生物,同則不繼。(《國語·鄭語》)
不同的事物相互配合而生成新的事物,只有相同的事物則難以有延續。
Harmony begets new things; while uniformity does not lead to continuation. (Discourses on Governance of the States)
◎君子和而不同,小人同而不和。(《論語·子路》)
君子與人和諧相處卻不會盲目附和,小人盲目附和而不能真正和諧相處。
A man of virtue pursues harmony but does not seek uniformity; a petty man seeks uniformity but does not pursue harmony. (The Analects)
推薦:教育部 國家語委
供稿:北京外國語大學 外語教學與研究出版社
責任編輯:錢耐安