整理/秦珍子 制圖/董怡璇

言之無文，行而不遠

　　這條術語的意思是，語言如果缺乏文采和技巧，就不可能流傳廣泛久遠。孔子原話的意思是說，在外交場合，使臣要擅長辭令、講究語言技巧，才能達成目標、建立功業。進而引申出，一種思想如果想久遠傳播，就必須借助于有章法、有文采的書面文字。南朝劉勰在《文心雕龍》中征引了孔子的話，一方面充分肯定文辭的功效，另一方面是為了強調文章形式與技巧的重要性。該語闡明了語文對于明道經世的工具性作用，提升了文藝批評在思想文化史上的地位。

Lackluster Wording Never Travels Far

　　This terms means that lackluster writing or speech never travels far. What Confucius meant when he said this is that, in foreign relations, a diplomat should be eloquent and persuasive to achieve goals and become meritorious. Likewise, if an idea is to spread far or be remembered for long, it must be put to paper by rules of writing and with beautiful wording.In The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons, Liu Xie of the Southern Dynasties cited these words of Confucius to uphold the importance of diction and to stress the importance of an essay's layout and technique. This term highlights the instrumental role of writing in explaining and being useful to the world, thus raising the status of literary criticism in the history of thought and culture.

引例

　　仲尼曰：“志有之：‘言以足志，文以足言。’不言，誰知其志？言之無文，行而不遠。”（《左傳·襄公二十五年》）（孔子說：“古書上記載：‘語言足以表達思想，文采足以修飾語言。’不說話，有誰能知道他的意愿？語言如果缺乏文采和技巧，就不可能流傳廣泛久遠。”）

　　Confucius said: "According to ancient sources, 'Language proves fit for expressing ideas, and rhetorical skills suffice to retouch language.' If he doesn't speak, who knows how he views anything? Even if he does, lackluster writing or speech will not travel far." (Zuo's Commentary on The Spring and Autumn Annals)