1
《易》曰：「亢之爲言也，知進而不知退，知存而不知亡。 知進退存亡而不失其正者，其唯聖人乎！」 《傳》曰：「知足不辱，知止不殆。」 然則不知夫進退，不達乎止足，殆辱之累，期月而至矣。 古人之進也，以康世濟務也，以弘道厲俗也。 然其進也，光寵夷易，故愚夫之所乾沒； 其退也，苦節艱貞，故庸曹之所忌憚。 雖禍敗危亡，陳乎耳目，而輕舉高蹈，寡乎前史。 漢世張良功成身退，病臥卻粒，比於樂毅、范蠡至乎顛狽，斯爲優矣。 其後薛廣德及二疏等，去就以禮，有可稱焉。 魚豢《魏略·知足傳》，方田、徐於管、胡，則其道本異。 謝靈運《晉書·止足傳》，先論晉世文士之避亂者，殆非其人； 唯阮思曠遺榮好遁，遠殆辱矣。 《宋書·止足傳》有羊欣、王微，咸其流亞。 齊時沛國劉瓛，字子珪，辭祿懷道，棲遲養志，不戚戚於貧賤，不耽耽於富貴，儒行之高者也。 梁有天下，小人道消，賢士大夫相招在位，其量力守志，則當世罔聞，時或有致事告老，或有寡志少欲，國史書之，亦以爲《止足傳》云。
The Changes says: "Excess" means knowing when to advance but not when to retreat, knowing how to preserve but not how to perish. Only the sage knows advance, retreat, preservation, and loss without losing the Mean!" The Tradition says: "Knowing sufficiency brings no disgrace; knowing when to stop brings no danger." Yet those who misjudge advance and retreat and never grasp sufficiency and stopping invite disgrace and danger within a month. Men of old advanced to comfort the age, aid affairs, spread the Way, and sharpen custom. Advance brought easy glory and favor, so fools scrambled for them; withdrawal meant bitter integrity and hard constancy that vulgar men feared and resented. Though disaster and ruin lay before their eyes, few in earlier histories lightly rose and walked away. In Han, Zhang Liang achieved merit and withdrew, took to his bed and ceased grain—compared with Yue Yi and Fan Li, even to their ruin, he was the better case. Later Xue Guangde and the two Shus withdrew according to ritual—there is something to praise in that. Yu Huan's "Biography of Knowing Sufficiency" in the Wei Summary pairs Tian and Xu with Guan and Hu—their Ways were fundamentally different. Xie Lingyun's Jin History "Biography of Knowing When to Stop" discusses literary men fleeing disorder—hardly the right men; only Ruan Sixiao left glory and loved withdrawal, far from nearly suffering disgrace. The Song History "Biography of Knowing Sufficiency" has Yang Xin and Wang Wei—both of that stream. In Qi, Liu Huan of Pei, styled Zigui, declined salary and cherished the Way, lingered to nourish his will—neither fretful in poverty nor greedy in wealth: a Confucian of the highest conduct. When Liang possessed the realm, petty ways faded and worthy men took office together. Those who measured strength and kept resolve went unmentioned; some reported illness and retired, some had few desires—the state history records them in this Biography of Knowing Sufficiency as well.
2
顧憲之
Gu Xianzhi
3
顧憲之字士思，吳郡吳人也。 祖抃之，宋鎮軍將軍、湘州刺史。
Gu Xianzhi, styled Sisi, came from Wu in Wu commandery. His grandfather Bianzhi was Song General Who Pacifies the Army and inspector of Xiangzhou.
4
憲之未弱冠，州辟議曹從事，舉秀才，累遷太子舍人、尚書比部郎、撫軍主簿。 元徽中，爲建康令。 時有盜牛者，被主所認，盜者亦稱己牛，二家辭證等，前後令莫能決。 憲之至，覆其狀，謂二家曰：「無爲多言，吾得之矣。」 乃令解牛，任其所去，牛徑還本主宅，盜者始伏其辜。 發姦擿伏，多如此類，時人號曰神明。 至於權要請託，長吏貪殘，據法直繩，無所阿縱。 性又清儉，強力爲政，甚得民和。 故京師飲酒者得醇旨，輒號爲「顧建康」，言醑清且美焉。
Before he capped his years, the province appointed him Retainer of the Council; recommended as Filial-and-Incorrupt, he rose through Attendant of the Heir Apparent and Director of the Ministry of Justice Comparison Section to Registrar of the Pacification Army. In the Yuanhui era he was magistrate of Jiankang. A cattle thief was identified by the owner; the thief also claimed the ox was his—both argued equally, and successive magistrates could not decide. When Xianzhi arrived, he reviewed the case and told both households: "Say no more—I have got it." He had the ox untied and let it go where it would; the ox went straight to the true owner's house, and the thief at last confessed. Exposing wrongdoing and unmasking the hidden—many cases were like this; people called him divine in judgment. For powerful men's entreaties and greedy administrators, he held the law straight and never yielded to flattery. Pure and frugal by nature, he governed with firm strength and won the people's harmony. Hence capital drinkers who got rich flavor called it "Administrator Gu of Jiankang," saying the brew was clear and fine.
5
遷車騎功曹、晉熙王友。 齊高帝執政，以爲驃騎錄事參軍，遷太尉西曹掾。 齊臺建，爲中書侍郎。 齊高帝卽位，除衡陽內史。 先是，郡境連歲疾疫，死者太半，棺木尤貴，悉裹以葦席，棄之路傍。 憲之下車，分告屬縣，求其親黨，悉令殯葬。 其家人絕滅者，憲之爲出公祿，使綱紀營護之。 又土俗，山民有病，輒云先人爲禍，皆開塚剖棺，水洗枯骨，名爲除祟。 憲之曉喻，爲陳生死之別，事不相由，風俗遂改。 時刺史王奐新至，唯衡陽獨無訟者，乃歎曰：「顧衡陽之化至矣。 若九郡率然，吾將何事！」
He was transferred to Registrar of the Chariots and Cavalry and Friend of the Prince of Jinxi. When Qi Gaozu held the government, he made him Recorder of the Rapid Cavalry and transferred him to Western Section Clerk of the Grand Marshal. When the Qi regime was established, he became Attendant of the Secretariat. When Qi Gaozu took the throne, he was appointed administrator of Hengyang. Before this, plague had struck year after year and more than half died; coffin wood was costly, and corpses were wrapped in reed mats and cast beside the road. When Xianzhi took office, he sent word to subordinate counties to seek kin and had them all buried properly. For families whose line was extinguished, Xianzhi paid from public salary and had clerks arrange care. Again, by local custom when mountain folk fell ill they said ancestors were the harm, opening tombs and washing dry bones—called "removing the curse." Xianzhi enlightened them on life and death and that the affairs do not bear on one another—the custom changed. Inspector Wang Huan had newly arrived; only Hengyang had no litigation, and he sighed: "Administrator Gu of Hengyang's transformation has reached the utmost. If the nine commanderies were all like this, what would I have to do!"
6
還爲太尉從事中郎。 出爲東中郎長史、行會稽郡事。 山陰人呂文度有寵於齊武帝，於餘姚立邸，頗縱橫。 憲之至郡，卽表除之。 文度後還葬母，郡縣爭赴弔，憲之不與相聞。 文度深銜之，卒不能傷也。 遷南中郎巴陵王長史，加建威將軍、行婺州事。 時司徒、竟陵王於宣城、臨成、定陵三縣界立屯，封山澤數百里，禁民樵采，憲之固陳不可，言甚切直。 王答之曰：「非君無以聞此德音。」 卽命無禁。
He returned as Retainer of the Masters of Affairs in the Grand Marshal's office. He went out as Chief Clerk of the Eastern General of the Gentlemen and acting administrator of Kuaiji. Lü Wendu of Shanyin had favor with Qi Wudi and established a lodge in Yuyao, behaving overbearingly. When Xianzhi reached the commandery, he memorialized at once to remove it. Wendu later returned to bury his mother; commandery and county competed to attend mourning, but Xianzhi did not acknowledge it. Wendu deeply resented this but in the end could not harm him. He was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Prince of Baling in the Southern General of the Gentlemen, with additional title General Who Establishes Might and acting governor of Wuzhou. The Minister of Works, Prince of Jingling, enclosed mountains and marshes for hundreds of li and forbade firewood—Xianzhi firmly memorialized that this could not be, his words very blunt. The Prince replied: "Without you I would not have heard this virtuous word." He at once ordered no prohibition.
7
遷給事黃門侍郎，兼尚書吏部郎中。 宋世，其祖覬之嘗爲吏部，於庭植嘉樹，謂人曰：「吾爲憲之種耳。」 至是，憲之果爲此職。 出爲征虜長史、行南兗州事，遭母憂。 服闋，建武中，復除給事黃門侍郎，領步兵校尉。 未拜，仍遷太子中庶子，領吳邑中正。 出爲寧朔將軍、臨川內史； 未赴，改授輔國將軍、晉陵太守。 頃之遇疾，陳解還鄉里。
He was transferred to Attendant of the Yellow Gate and concurrently Director in the Ministry of Personnel Section. In Song times his grandfather Guan had served in the Ministry of Personnel; in the courtyard he planted a fine tree and said: "I am planting this for Xianzhi." At this time Xianzhi indeed held that office. He went out as Chief Clerk of the General Who Punishes the Barbarians and acting governor of Southern Yanzhou, and encountered mourning for his mother. When mourning ended, in Jianwu he was again appointed Attendant of the Yellow Gate and Colonel of the Footsoldiers. Before he took the appointment he was transferred to Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent and concurrently Rectifier of Wu district. He went out as General Who Pacifies the North and administrator of Linchuan; before he went, the appointment was changed to General Who Assists the State and administrator of Jinling. Shortly afterward he fell ill and petitioned to return to his home village.
8
永元初，徵爲廷尉，不拜，除豫章太守。 有貞婦萬晞者，少孀居無子，事舅姑尤孝，父母欲奪而嫁之，誓死不許，憲之賜以束帛，表其節義。
At the beginning of Yongyuan he was summoned as Minister of Justice but did not accept; he was appointed administrator of Yuzhang. Chaste widow Wan Xi, widowed young without sons, served her parents-in-law with utmost filiality; her parents wished to force remarriage but she swore to die—Xianzhi bestowed silk and memorialized her integrity.
9
中興二年，義師平建康，高祖爲揚州牧，徵憲之爲別駕從事史。 比至，高祖已受禪，憲之風疾漸篤，固求還吳。 天監二年，就家授太中大夫。 憲之雖累經宰郡，資無擔石。 及歸，環堵，不免饑寒。 八年，卒於家，年七十四。 臨終爲制，以敕其子曰：
In the second year of Zhongxing, when the righteous army pacified Jiankang, Gaozu was governor of Yangzhou and summoned Xianzhi as Retainer of the Separate Chariot. By the time he arrived, Gaozu had already received the abdication; Xianzhi's wind ailment grew severe and he firmly asked to return to Wu. In the second year of Tianjian, he was appointed Grand Master of the Palace at his home. Though Xianzhi had repeatedly governed commanderies, his assets did not amount to a dan of grain. When he returned, his ring of walls could not keep out hunger and cold. In the eighth year he died at home, aged seventy-four. On his deathbed he made regulations and charged his sons, saying:
10
夫出生入死，理均晝夜。 生旣不知所從來，死亦安識所往。 延陵所云「精氣上歸于天，骨肉下歸於地，魂氣則無所不之」，良有以也。 雖復茫昧難徵，要若非妄。 百年之期，迅若馳隙。 吾今豫爲終制，瞑目之後，念並遵行，勿違吾志也。
Birth and entering death, death and leaving life—reason treats them like day and night. While alive one does not know whence one came; in death how can one know whither one goes? What Yanling said—"The refined breath returns to Heaven, flesh and bone to earth, and the soul's breath goes everywhere"—has good grounds. Though obscure and hard to verify, in essentials it is not vain. A span of a hundred years is swift as a galloping gap. I now prepare these final regulations in advance; after my eyes close, follow them—do not go against my will.
11
莊周、澹臺，達生者也； 王孫、士安，矯俗者也。 吾進不及達，退無所矯。 常謂中都之制，允理愜情。 衣周於身，示不違禮； 棺周於衣，足以蔽臭。 入棺之物，一無所須。 載以輴車，覆以粗布，爲使人勿惡也。 漢明帝天子之尊，猶祭以杅水脯糗； 范史雲烈士之高，亦奠以寒水乾飯。 況吾卑庸之人，其可不節衷也？ 喪易寧戚，自是親親之情； 禮奢寧儉，差可得由吾意。 不須常施靈筵，可止設香燈，使致哀者有憑耳。 朔望祥忌，可權安小床，暫設幾席，唯下素饌，勿用牲牢。 蒸嘗之祠，貴賤罔替。 備物難辦，多致疏怠。 祠先人自有舊典，不可有闕。 自吾以下，祠止用蔬食時果，勿同於上世也。 示令子孫，四時不忘其親耳。 孔子云：「雖菜羹瓜祭，必齊如也。」 本貴誠敬，豈求備物哉？
Zhuang Zhou and Tantai Mieming had attained life; Wang Sun and Shi An corrected vulgar custom. In advance I do not reach attainment; in withdrawal I have nothing to correct. I have always held that the mid-dynasty system accords with reason and satisfies feeling. Clothing sufficient for the body shows one does not violate ritual; a coffin sufficient for the clothing is enough to cover stench. What goes into the coffin—nothing is needed. Carry on a bier-cart, cover with coarse cloth—so people will not be disgusted. Emperor Ming of Han, though Son of Heaven, still sacrificed with ladle-water, dried meat, and parched grain; Fan Shiyun, lofty as a martyr, also offered cold water and dry rice. How much more for a low and mediocre man like me—can he not restrain his feelings? Mourning is easy but dwelling in grief is hard—this is kin affection; ritual extravagant but dwelling in frugality is somewhat attainable according to my will. Do not constantly set out spirit mats; stop at lighting incense lamps, so mourners have something to rely on. On the first and fifteenth and mourning anniversaries, provisionally set a small couch and briefly place mats, offering only plain food—do not use sacrificial animals. Seasonal sacrifices to ancestors—noble and base alike do not omit them. Full provision is hard to prepare and often leads to neglect. Sacrificing to forebears has its old canon—it cannot be wanting. From me downward, sacrifice only with vegetables, grain, and seasonal fruit—do not be like upper generations. Show sons and grandsons so the four seasons do not forget their kin. Confucius said: "Even with vegetable broth and melon sacrifice, one must be as if present." The root values sincere reverence—how could one seek full provision?
12
所著詩、賦、銘、贊幷《衡陽郡記》數十篇。
He authored poems, fu, inscriptions, eulogies, and several tens of chapters of the Record of Hengyang Commandery.
13
陶季直
Tao Jizhi
14
陶季直，丹陽秣陵人也。 祖愍祖，宋廣州刺史。 父景仁，中散大夫。
Tao Jizhi came from Moling in Danyang. His grandfather Minzu was Song inspector of Guangzhou. His father Jingren was palace attendant.
15
季直早慧，愍祖甚愛異之。 愍祖嘗以四函銀列置於前，令諸孫各取，季直時甫四歲，獨不取。 人問其故，季直曰：「若有賜，當先父伯，不應度及諸孫，是故不取。」 愍祖益奇之。 五歲喪母，哀若成人。 初，母未病，令於外染衣； 卒後，家人始贖，季直抱之號慟，聞者莫不酸感。
Minzu loved and favored him exceedingly for his early brilliance. Minzu once set four boxes of silver before them and had the grandsons each take one; Jizhi was only four and alone did not take. When asked why, Jizhi said: "If there is a gift, it should go first to fathers and uncles—not to grandsons—therefore I do not take." Minzu admired him all the more. At five he lost his mother and mourned as if an adult. Earlier, before his mother fell ill, she had him dye clothes outside; after her death the household at last redeemed them; Jizhi embraced them and wailed—hearers were all moved to sorrow.
16
及長，好學，淡於榮利。 起家桂陽王國侍郎、北中郎鎮西行參軍，並不起，時人號曰「聘君」。 父憂服闋，尚書令劉秉領丹陽尹，引爲後軍主簿、領郡功曹。 出爲望蔡令，頃之以病免。 時劉秉、袁粲以齊高帝權勢日盛，將圖之，秉素重季直，欲與之定策。 季直以袁、劉儒者，必致顛殞，固辭不赴。 俄而秉等伏誅。
When grown he loved learning and was indifferent to glory and profit. He began as Gentleman of the Kingdom of Guiyang and Army Aide on the Western Campaign of the Northern General of the Gentlemen, and did not take office—people called him "the Invited Gentleman." When mourning for his father ended, Liu Bing, concurrently administrator of Danyang, appointed him Chief Clerk of the Rear Army and concurrently Commandery Merit Officer. He went out as magistrate of Wangcai; shortly afterward he was excused on grounds of illness. At the time Liu Bing and Yuan Can, because Qi Gaozu's power grew daily, were about to plot against him; Bing had always esteemed Jizhi and wished to settle strategy with him. Jizhi held that Yuan and Liu were Confucians and would surely come to ruin, and firmly declined to go. Shortly afterward Bing and the others were executed.
17
齊初，爲尚書比部郎，時褚淵爲尚書令，與季直素善，頻以爲司空司徒主簿，委以府事。 淵卒，尚書令王儉以淵有至行，欲諡爲文孝公，季直請曰：「文孝是司馬道子諡，恐其人非具美，不如文簡。」 儉從之。 季直又請儉爲淵立碑，終始營護，甚有吏節，時人美之。
At the beginning of Qi he was Director of the Ministry of Justice Comparison Section; Chu Yuan was Minister of Works and was on good terms with Jizhi, repeatedly making him Registrar of the Masters of Works and Minister of Works, entrusting him with bureau affairs. When Yuan died, Wang Jian wished to posthumously title him Duke Wenxiao; Jizhi petitioned: "Wenxiao was Sima Daozi's posthumous title—I fear the man was not wholly good; better Wenjian." Jian followed this. Jizhi also asked Jian to erect a stele for Yuan and saw to it from start to finish—very much official conduct; people praised this.
18
遷太尉記室參軍。 出爲冠軍司馬、東莞太守，在郡號爲清和。 還除散騎侍郎，領左衛司馬，轉鎮西諮議參軍。 齊武帝崩，明帝作相，誅鋤異己，季直不能阿意，明帝頗忌之，乃出爲輔國長史、北海太守。 邊職上佐，素士罕爲之者。 或勸季直造門致謝，明帝旣見，便留之，以爲驃騎諮議參軍，兼尚書左丞。 仍遷建安太守，政尚清靜，百姓便之。 還爲中書侍郎，遷遊擊將軍、兼廷尉。
He was transferred to Retainer of the Masters of Affairs in the Grand Marshal's office. He went out as Army Aide to the Champion and administrator of Dongguan; in the commandery he was known as pure and harmonious. On return he was appointed Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry and Colonel of the Left Guard, then transferred to Army Adviser on the Western Campaign. When Qi Wudi died, Mingdi became regent and purged dissenters; Jizhi could not flatter him and Mingdi feared him, sending him out as Chief Clerk Who Assists the State and administrator of Beihai. Chief aide on a frontier post—plain scholars rarely held it. Some urged Jizhi to call at his gate and apologize; once Mingdi saw him he kept him, making him Army Adviser on the Rapid Cavalry and Director of the Left in the Secretariat. He was then transferred to administrator of Jian'an; his government prized quiet purity and the people found it easy. On return he was Attendant of the Secretariat and transferred to General Who Strikes the Foe and minister of justice.
19
梁臺建，遷給事黃門侍郎。 常稱仕至二千石，始願畢矣，無爲務人間之事，乃辭疾還鄉里。 天監初，就家拜太中大夫。 高祖曰：「梁有天下，遂不見此人。」 十年，卒於家，時年七十五。 季直素清苦絕倫，又屏居十餘載，及死，家徒四壁，子孫無以殯斂，聞者莫不傷其志焉。
When the Liang regime was established, he was transferred to Attendant of the Yellow Gate. He often said that serving to two-thousand-dan salary fulfilled his original wish, and he would not busy himself with worldly affairs—then he pleaded illness and returned home. At the beginning of Tianjian he was appointed Grand Master of the Palace at his home. Gaozu said: "Liang has possessed the realm, yet I never saw this man." In the tenth year he died at home, aged seventy-five. Jizhi was pure and bitter beyond compare; he lived in seclusion more than ten years, and at death his house had only bare walls—descendants had no means for burial; hearers grieved for his resolve.
20
蕭眎素
Xiao Shisu
21
蕭眎素，蘭陵人也。 祖思話，宋征西儀同三司； 父惠明，吳興太守； 皆有盛名。
Xiao Shisu came from Lanling. His grandfather Sihua was Song General of the West on Equal Terms with the Three Excellencies; his father Huiming was administrator of Wuxing; both had great fame.
22
眎素早孤貧，爲叔父惠休所收卹。 起家爲齊司徒法曹行參軍，遷著作佐郎、太子舍人、尚書三公郎。 永元末，爲太子洗馬。 梁臺建，高祖引爲中尉驃騎記室參軍。 天監初，爲臨川王友，復爲太子中舍人、丹陽尹丞。 初拜，高祖賜錢八萬，眎素一朝散之親友。 又遷司徒左西屬、南徐州治中。
Shisu was orphaned young and poor and was taken in by his uncle Huixiu. He began as Army Aide in the Law Section of the Qi Minister of Works, transferred to Assistant Gentleman of the Secretariat, Attendant of the Heir Apparent, and Director of the Three Excellencies Section. At the end of Yongyuan he was Groom of the Heir Apparent. When the Liang regime was established, Gaozu appointed him Retainer of the Masters of Affairs in the Rapid Cavalry and Central Commandant. At the beginning of Tianjian he was Friend of the Prince of Linchuan, then Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent and assistant to the administrator of Danyang. On first taking office Gaozu bestowed eighty thousand cash; Shisu in one morning scattered it among kin and friends. He was again transferred to Western Section Clerk of the Left in the Minister of Works and concurrent administrator of Southern Xuzhou.
23
性靜退，少嗜欲，好學，能清言，榮利不關於口，喜怒不形於色。 在人間及居職，並任情通率，不自矜高，天然簡素，士人以此咸敬之。 及在京口，便有終焉之志，乃於攝山築室。 會徵爲中書侍郎，遂辭不就，因還山宅，獨居屏事，非親戚不得至其籬門。 妻，太尉王儉女，久與別居，遂無子。 八年，卒。 親故迹其事行，諡曰貞文先生。
Quiet and retiring by nature, with few desires; he loved learning, spoke with pure refinement, and profit and glory did not touch his lips—joy and anger did not show on his face. Among people and in office he was open and direct, never proud; naturally plain and simple—scholars all honored him for this. When at Jingkou he already had the will to end his days there and built a house on Mt She. Summoned as Attendant of the Secretariat, he declined; he returned to his mountain dwelling, lived alone, and kin and friends could not reach his hedge gate. His wife was the daughter of Grand Marshal Wang Jian; long separated from him, in the end there were no sons. In the eighth year he died. Kin and friends traced his conduct and gave the posthumous title Recluse Zhenwen.
24
【評】
Marker denoting the historian's commentary section in the source text.
25
史臣曰：顧憲之、陶季直，引年者也，蕭眎素則宦情鮮焉。 比夫懷祿耽寵，婆娑人世，則殊間矣。 [1]
The historian says: Gu Xianzhi and Tao Jizhi cited age to withdraw; Xiao Shisu had little taste for office. Compared with those who hug salary and cling to favor, lingering among men—how utterly different! Editorial footnote marker in the source text.
26
全文以中華書局、一九七三年五月版《梁書》爲本校。
The full text was collated against the Zhonghua Shuju edition of the Book of Liang (May 1973).