6.18 子曰：“质胜文则野1，文胜质则史2。文质彬彬3，然后君子。”
【译文】
孔子说：“朴实胜过文采就会显得粗野，文采胜过朴实就会显得浮夸。文采与朴实两者兼备，这才是君子。”
【YZG解释】
孔子说：“朴实的本质胜过外在的进步就会显得粗野，外在进步胜过朴实的本质就会显得不真实。外在与本质两者可以平衡地融合，这才是君子。”
【English Translation】
Confucius said: “If the simple nature of someone surpasses his external progress, he would appear rough. If his external progress surpasses the simple nature, he would seem insincere. A noble person can integrate the external progress and simple nature in balance.”