西漢時候,有一位勇猛善戰的將軍,名叫李廣,一生跟匈奴打過七十多次仗,戰功卓著,深受官兵和百姓的愛戴。李廣雖然身居高位,統領千軍萬馬,而且是保衛國家的功臣,但他一點也不居功自傲。他不僅待人和氣,還能和士兵同甘共苦。每次朝廷給他的賞賜,他首先想到的是他的部下,就把那些賞賜統統分給官兵們;行軍打仗時,遇到糧食或水供應不上的情況,他自己也同士兵們一樣忍饑挨餓;打起仗來,他身先士卒,英勇頑強,只要他一聲令下,大家個個奮勇殺敵,不握犧牲。這是一位多么讓人崇敬的大將軍。
后來,當李廣將軍去世的噩耗傳到軍營時,全軍將士無不痛哭流涕,連許多與大將軍平時并不熟悉的百姓也紛紛悼念他。在人們心目中,李廣將軍就是他們崇拜的大英雄。
漢朝偉大的史學家司馬遷在為李廣立傳時稱贊道:“桃李不言,下自成蹊。”意思是說,桃李有著芬芳的花朵,甜美的果實,雖然它們不會說話,但仍然會吸引人們到樹下賞花嘗果,以至樹下都走出一條小路,李廣將軍就是以他的真誠和高尚的品質贏得了人們的崇敬。
“桃李不言,下自成蹊”這則成語出自《史記·李將軍列傳》,比喻為人真誠,嚴于律已,自然會感動別人,自然會受到人們的敬仰。
Peaches and Plums Do Not Have to Talk, Yet the World Beats a Path to Them--Natural Attraction
Duing the Western Han Dynasty(206 B.C.- A.D.24)Period, there was a very famous general whose name was Li Guang. He was very brave and skillful in battle, and had fought more than seventy battles with the Huns, an ancient nationality in China.Having made brilliant achievements in war, he was deeply loved and esteemed by the officers and men as well as the common people. However,he did not claim credit for himself and become arrogant,although he held a high post,commanding a big army,and had rendered outstanding service in defending the county. He was not only polite and amiable, but also shared weal and woe with the soldiers. He always had the troops under his commandat heart,and whenever gifts were bestowed to him by the imperial government,he distributed the gifts to his officers and men. When marching, he endured the torments of hunger and thirst as the soldiers did when food and water were in short supply. When fighting, he charged at the head of his men,and ,when he gave the order,every soldier advanced bravely to engage in fighting,not fearing death.
When the sad news of the heath of General Li Guang reached the militaty camp,the officers and men of the whole army wept bitterly.