原文
子曰：“古者言之不出，耻躬之不逮也。”
译文
孔子说：「古代的人不轻易出口成言，是因为以自身行动跟不上言语为耻。」古人深知，言语一出，便是承诺；若言而无行，不仅失信于人，亦自损品格。久而久之，轻言之人便会让人觉得其言不足信，自己也渐渐习以为常，口出空话而无所顾忌。因此，真正有修养的人，宁可少说，也要做到言出必行，视言行一致为立身之本。
ENGLISH
The Master said: "The men of old were not given to ready speech, for they were ashamed lest their actions should fall short of their words." The ancients understood that to speak is to make a pledge; words that outrun deeds bring shame upon oneself and forfeit the trust of others. When a man grows accustomed to empty promises, others cease to believe him, and he himself loses all regard for the weight of his own words. Thus the person of true cultivation speaks sparingly, but when he speaks, he acts — for integrity between word and deed is the very foundation of character.
注释展开注释收起注释
孔子说，古代的人不怎么说话，不轻易开口，为什么呢，因为怕说出来不能身体力行，就失信于人，失信于己。养成习惯过后，大家都知道你说话，说了也白说，也就不相信你了。你自己呢，也知道自己说了也是白说，也就随便说话。
比如你说你要去健身，结果你根本不去。然后每天继续鼓励自己要经商，但还是不去。比如你要创业，你水远在说你要创业了，但你依旧在打工不行动，慢慢地你就老了，也就无所谓了。
人最怕的是说话不算数。人，最可贵的是说话算数。人家觉得你实在，就愿意跟你合作。你自己呢，如果每句话都考虑得很清楚，说了就去干，那么你这一辈子一定有成就。人生最大的价值就是说话算数。人最愚蠢的是说话不算数，看似忽悠了别人，最终忽悠了自己。