清晨，天刚蒙蒙亮，孔子就起来了，拿着一根拐杖，带了一些干粮，准备出门。弟子问道：“老师，您这是要去哪儿？”孔子高兴地说：“我要去登泰山。”弟子一愣：“泰山那么高，您老人家要是想游览美景，可以去小山。”孔子一脸严肃地说：“我不是去泰山游玩，泰山是五岳之尊，是世人认为最崇高的山峰。我是怀着敬畏的心情去拜谒泰山，同时考察古代君主在泰山祭祀的情况。”弟子说：“那，老师我跟您一起去吧。”

Early one morning,just at the crack of dawn, Confucius (孔天于）was about to leave his house,holding a walking stick and carrying a simple lunch. One of his disciples asked him: "Master,where are you going? "Confucius replied,cheerfully: "I'm going to climb Mount Tai. "

His disciple was puzzled: "But Mount Tai is so high! If you,sir,an old man,wish to enjoy the scenery,why don't you climb a small mountain? "

Confucius replied gravely: "I'm not going to Mount Tai for pleasure. Mount Tai is regarded as the holiest of the Five Sacred Mountains; I'm going to pay my respects to Mount Tai and to investigate how the ancient rulers sacrificed on this mountain. "

The disciple then said, "In that case,sir,let's go together. "

孔子从东麓登山，过了一天门往北行走，路越来越崎岖。孔子的脚步渐渐慢了下来，气喘吁吁，每走一步都很艰难。弟子说：“老师，我扶着您走吧。”“不用，我还可以坚持。”“那您休息一会吧，咱们不一定要登顶啊。”

They approached Mount Tai from the eastern road. Passing the One Heaven Gate,they turned north. The path grew progressively more rugged,and Confucius'steps became slower and he began to pant for breath. Every step seemed to get harder for him to make.His disciple said, "Master,let me help you. "But the other replied, "There is no need. I  can keep going. ”

His disciple then suggested, "Well,have a rest,sir, Besides,we don't have to go right to the top. ”

孔子回望走过的路，语重心长地说：“你看这路就像人生之路，充满了荆棘。我周游列国，四处碰壁，但是从来没想过放弃或降低追求，一定要登顶！”弟子不再多说，终于，二人登顶。

Confucius looked back down at the way they had come,and said in an earnest tone:＂This path is like the road of life-full of thorns and briars. I have visited a number of states,and everywhere met with rebuffs. But I never thought of abandoning my quest or surrendering. We must go right to the top! "

The disciple raised no more objections,and the pair eventually reached the summit.

站在山巅，看着云海茫茫，一座座山峰相连，景色十分壮观，他由衷地发出感慨：“登上泰山才将天下尽收眼底！人世间的一切苦难顿时都变得微不足道，站得高才能看得远，才能扩大自己的胸襟。此山可以成为祭祀之所呀。”

Standing on the topmost peak and gazing down at the grandiose scenery amid the swirling"sea of clouds, "with crag after crag stretching into the distance, Confucius said with deep emotion: "By climbing Mount Tai,one can encompass the whole world at a single glance. Suddenly all the sufferings and hardships of humanity become of no consequence. By standing on a high place you get a broad panorama of things,and that way your horizons become wider. This mountain really is a place to offer sacrifices! " 

弟子说：“老师，我明白了，泰山就是崇高的象征。”

His disciple said, "Now I understand, Master,that Mount Tai is a symbol of nobility. " 

孔子很欣慰地点了点头。下山时，他们遇到了隐士荣启期。荣启期身上穿着鹿裘，腰间系着绳索，盘坐在崖上弹琴唱歌，非常惬意。孔子就问他：“先生为什么而乐呢？”老先生说：“我乐的事情太多了。我为自己是人而乐，我为自己是男人而乐，人生苦短，我已经九十岁了，我为自己长寿而乐。”孔子说：“凭您的才能却隐居深山，不免可惜啊！”老先生说：“世间能有丰功伟绩的又有几人，我已经知足，还有什么遗憾？”孔子听后感慨：“这真是知足常乐、心底宽广的人啊！看来，今天登泰山收获不小。”

Confucius nodded in satisfaction.

On their way back down, Confucius and his disciple met the hermit Rong Qiqi. This man wore a dress of deerskin and had a piece of rope for a belt. He was sitting crosslegged on a rock,playing a zither and singing,in complete contentment. Confucius asked him: "Sir,what makes you happy? " 

＂Many things make me happy, "replied the old man, "I am happy to be a person, I am happy to be a man. Life is short. I am over ninety years old,so I am happy to have lived so long. "

Confucius then asked, "Don't you,with all your talents,regret having adopted the life of a hermit secluded on this mountain? " 

The old man replied, "In the world of men there are few who achieve success and fame. I am contented with my lot,so what regrets should I have? "

Confucius said,with a sigh: "This man really is contented with his lot,and therefore happy. He is a man of truly deep understanding. ”

孔子仰慕泰山，弟子们则视孔子为泰山，二者的厚重、博大和高深皆为后世景仰。

As Confucius revered Mount Tai,his disciples looked up to Confucius as their Mount Tai;both were held in profound awe by later generations for their respective importance.

故事要旨

泰山之伟，不仅在其高度和风景，更因为它象征着崇高和威严。孔子之尊，不仅在于学识，更在其境界和修养。孔子之登临赋予了泰山厚重的文化意义，将这种凌云气势传递了一代又一代。

The greatness of Mount Tai lies not only in its size and scenery,but also in the fact that it is a symbol of reverence and authority. Likewise, Confucius is respected not only for his learning but also for his breadth of vision and self-cultivation. The literary signinlcance of Confucius'paean upon ascending Mount Tai has been handed down from generation to generation as a metaphor for soaring determination.