文质彬彬·每日好词语 | 慎终如始

整理/李怡蒙 制图/ 张玉佳

　　慎终如始

做事情自始至终都应小心谨慎，始终如一。从主观方面，成功多取决于人的谨慎与坚持，失败则往往由于人的懈怠和放弃。当事情即将完成，尤其是向好的方向发展的时候，人们的心理最易松弛，因而出现疏漏，故须强调“慎”。“慎”源于“诚”，“诚”就是认真谨慎地对待自己所担负的事情。

　　Be as Discreet at the End as at the Beginning

One should be discreet at the beginning and all the way through to finish. Generally speaking, discreetness and perseverance are the sure way to success, while negligence and laxity invariably lead to failure. When approaching a successful conclusion in an undertaking, people tend to lose drive and things may fall apart at the last minute. Therefore, we must act with discreetness, a concept that has its root in earnestness. Earnestness means handling things with great care.

　　引例

民之从事，常于几成而败之。慎终如始，则无败事。（《老子·六十四章》）（人们做事情，常在快要成功时遭到失败。结束时也像开始时一样谨慎，事情就不会失败。）

Some people fail when they are close to success. So, as we come to the end, we must be as discreet as at the beginning, and this will ensure success. (Laozi)