諸經要集 9.80

9.80

夫思慎防過。無患之理。緘口息謗。離惡之原。誡始慎終。是君子之鹽梅。敬初護末。是養生之要趣。庶鑒罪福之沈浮。知吉凶之樂苦。譬目暗於自見。借鏡以觀形。髮拙於自理。必假櫛以自通。故面之所以形。明鏡之力也。髮之所以理。玄櫛之功也。行之所以芳。善言之益也。果之所以勝。善因之善也。是故身之將敗。必不納正諫之言。命之將終。必不可受之良藥也。

Now, deliberating with prudence to guard against faults is the principle of being free from adversity. Sealing the mouth to put an end to slander is the source of departing from evil. Being cautious at the beginning and prudent to the end—these are the salt and plum of the gentleman. Revering the initial and protecting the final—these are the essential pursuits for nurturing life. One hopes to reflect upon the rising and sinking of guilt and merit, and to understand the joy and suffering of fortune and misfortune. For instance, the eye is blind to seeing itself and must borrow a mirror to observe its form; the hair is awkward at untangling itself and must rely on a comb to clear its way. Thus, that the face can have its shape [seen] is the power of a clear mirror; that the hair can be untangled is the achievement of a dark comb. That one's conduct becomes fragrant is the benefit of wholesome words; that the fruit is supreme is the goodness of wholesome causes. Therefore, when a body is about to be ruined, it will certainly not take in words of correct remonstrance; when a life is about to end, it will certainly not accept good medicine.