16.11 孔子曰：“见善如不及，见不善如探汤[^①]。吾见其人矣，吾闻其语矣。隐居以求其志，行义以达其道。吾闻其语矣，未见其人也。”
【译文】
孔子说：“看见好的德行就像自己赶不上一样地努力追求，看见不好的德行就像手伸入沸水那样急忙摆脱。我看见过这样的人，我也听到过这样的话。能退避隐居而坚守自己的志向，能以义行事来实施所持之道。我听到过这样的话，但没有看见过这样的人。”
【YZG解释】
孔子说：“看见好的德行就唯恐不及地努力追求，看见不好的德行就像手伸入沸水那样急忙避开。我看见过这样的人，也听到过这样的话。为了坚守自己的志向而退避隐居，等到得志之时，则努力施展才略，坚持以义行事来实施所持之道。我听到过这样的话，但没有看见过这样的人。”
[^①]汤：沸水。
【English Translation】
Confucius said: “When seeing good virtue, one strives hard for fear of not being able to reach it in time; when seeing bad behaviors, one hurriedly avoids it as if putting his hand into boiling water. I have ever seen such people and heard such words. One retires and lives in seclusion to stick to his aspiration, and when achieving his ambition, he makes efforts to exert his talent and ability, and insists on acting in accordance with righteousness to implement the Way. I have heard such words, but have not seen such people.”