One day, Ping Gong, the King of the State of Jin, said to his minister Shi Kuang: "I am over 70 years old. Though I "am eager to read some books, I feel it is too late."

 

Shi Kuang said: "Too late? Why don't you light the candle?"

 

Ping Gong said: "I am serious. But you go so far as to make fun of me!"

 

Shi Kuang said: "How dare I, a blind minister, make fun of Your Majesty¹? I heard that when a man in his youth is fond of studying, he is like the rising sun, brilliant and magnificent; when a man in the prime of life is fond of studying, he is like the sun at noon, with still half a day's good time ahead; when a man in his old age is fond of studying, he is like the flame of a candle. Though the light is failing, it is better than groping in the dark."

 

Hearing Shi Kuang's words, Ping Gong of Jin said with pleasure: "How well you have put it!"

 

有一天，晋国君主晋平公对他的臣子师旷说：“我已经七十多岁了，虽然很想读些书，但是，总觉得时间太晚了！”

 

师旷说：“时间太晚吗？为什么不把蜡烛点起来呢？”

 

平公说：“我和你说正经话，怎么，你竟和我开起玩笑来了！”

 

师旷说：“我这个双目失明的臣子，哪里敢和大王开玩笑！我听说，一个人在少年的时候好学，就像初升的太阳那样，辉煌而灿烂；壮年的时候好学，犹如正午的太阳，还有半天的好时光呢；老年的时候好学，就像蜡烛的火焰一样。蜡烛的光亮虽然是有限的，但是有了它，总比在黑暗中摸索着前进要好些吧！”

 

听了师旷的话，晋平公高兴地说：“你说得多好啊！”

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