【原文】

子曰：〝苗而不秀者有矣夫！秀而不实者有矣夫！〞

【參考譯文】

孔子说：〝有的人就像一些庄稼苗一样，虽发牙却不扬花，有的虽扬花却不结实。〞

【English Translation】

Confucius said: "Some seedlings spring up but never flower while others flower but do not bear fruit. "

      Note: These images allude to the problem of giving up halfway.