16.9 孔子曰：“生而知之者上也，学而知之者次也；困而学之，又其次也；困而不学，民斯为下矣。”
【译文】
孔子说：“生来就知道的人是上等，学了然后知道的人是次一等；遇到困难而去学习的人又次一等；遇到困难还不学习，平民百姓就是这种最下等的了。”
【YZG解释】
孔子说：“生来就知道的人是上等，主动学习然后知道的人是次一等；实践中遇到困难而去学习的人又次一等；遇到困难还不学习，那真是最下等的了。”
【YZG链接】
【English Translation】
Confucius said: “Those who know the principles by nature are of the highest class. Those who learn actively and then know the principles are of the second class. Those who learn when encountering difficulties in practice are of the third class. And those who do not learn even when encountering difficulties are truly of the lowest class.”