人之初，性本善

人之初，性本善。性相近，习相远。

Man on earth, Good at birth.  The same nature, Varies on nurture.

苟不教，性乃迁。教之道，贵以专。

With no education, There’d be aberration.  To teach well, You deeply dwell.

昔孟母，择邻处。子不学，断机杼。

Then Mencius’ mother, Chose her neighbor.  At Mencius sloth, She cut the cloth.

子不教，父子过。教不严，师之惰。

What’s a father? A good teacher.  What’s a teacher? A strict preacher.

玉不琢，不成器。人不学，不知义。

No jade crude, Shows craft good.  Unless you learn, Brute you’ll turn.

为人子，方少时。亲师友，习礼仪。

Son of man, Mature you can.  Teacher or peer, Hold them dear.

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