文／明．方孝孺（1357~1402）

天下之事，常發於至微，而終為大患。始以為不足治，而終至於不可為。當其易也，惜旦夕之力，忽之而不顧。及其既成也，積歲月，疲思慮，而僅克之，如此指者多矣。

──選自《古文觀止》

【譯文】

天下的事故，通常發生在極為細微，隱而不顯的地方，最後成為莫大的禍患。最初認為不值得處理，可是最後會變成沒有辦法處理的地步。

事發之初，還容易處理時，往往吝惜些微精力，輕忽它而不加顧慮；等到禍患形成了，必須花費很長的時間，用盡腦筋，精疲力竭，才僅僅能把禍患克服。天下事，像這拇指的，可太多了！

Metaphor (Excerpt)

Fang Xiaoru (1357 - 1402, Ming Dynasty)

English translation: Venerable Miao Guang

The mishaps of the world usually begin from the smallest things, which then turn into serious troubles. A seemingly insignificant problem which is neglected in the beginning will become an unresolvable issue in the end.

Just to spare a moment's effort, a problem is neglected while it still can be easily resolved; it is not until after it progresses, when it begins to consume time and wear out one's thoughts, do many people begin to deal with it.

── from Guwen Guanzhi

（An Anthology of Chinese Classical Prose）