整理/餘冰玥 製圖/張玉佳

前事不忘，後事之師

過去的事情不能忘記，它可作為以後行事的借鑒。“前事”即過去的事，亦即曆史；“後事”即後來的事，亦即現在和未來；“師”即效法、借鑒。其深層含義在於提醒人們要從曆史中吸取經驗教訓，以此作為後來的參照或借鑒。

Past Experience, If Not Forgotten, Is a Guide for the Future.

This concept is meant to remind people of the need to learn from past experience and make it a guide for the future. In ancient China great importance was attached to writing history and thus historiography experienced great progress.

引例

臣觀成事，聞往古，天下之美同，臣主之權均之能美，未之有也。前事之不忘，後事之師。（《戰國策·趙策一》）（我考察古往今來發生的事情，發現普天之下美的東西總是相同的，但臣下與君主權勢均等而能和美相處的，這種事情從來也沒出現過。過去的事情不能忘記，它可作為以後行事的借鑒。）

Citation

In observing past events and learning of ancient times, I have found that the good things in the world are always the same, but it has never occurred that when a sovereign and his officials have had equal power, they can still live harmoniously. We should not forget past experience, but instead use it as a guide for the future. (Strategies of the Warring States)