文质彬彬·每日好词语｜积善成德

　　积善成德

　　积累善行以养成德性。“积善成德”是荀子提出的一种德性养成方式。荀子认为，道德的确立有赖于后天的教化。人需要在言行表现上符合礼法的要求，并经过长期的积累，逐渐形成对道德、礼法的认同，确立内在的道德意识。

　　Moral Character Can Be Built by Accumulating Goodness

　　Xunzi first proposed this idea as a way to cultivate rectitude. He believed that ethics and morals are instilled in a person through nurture and education. By conforming to the demands of proper speech and conduct over a long period of time, a person gradually develops a sense of propriety and inner morality.

　　引例

　　积土成山，风雨兴焉；积水成渊，蛟龙生焉；积善成德，而神明自得，圣心备焉。（《荀子·劝学》）（土堆积起来形成山，风雨在这里产生。水积聚起来形成深渊，蛟龙在这里生长。善行不断积累以养成德性，就自然获得智慧，圣人的心智就具备了。）

　　Heaped earth makes mountains where wind and rain are born; water pools into deep lakes where dragons dwell; many good deeds build moral character that creates discernment, and prepare for the heart and mind of a sage. (Xunzi)