昔有大富长者，左右之人欲取其意皆尽恭敬。长者唾时，左右侍人以脚蹋却。
In the past, there was a great wealthy elder, with people on his left and right, desiring to obtain his favour, who are all completely reverent to him. When the elder spat, these left and right attending persons with their feet stepped on and wiped it away.
有一人愚者，不及得蹋，而作是言：「若唾地者诸人蹋却，欲唾之时，我当先蹋。」
There was a foolish person, not as good in getting to step on it, then making this statement, ‘If that spat on the ground is by many people stepped on and wiped away, when he is about to spit, I will first step on him.’
于是长者正欲咳唾，时此愚人即便举脚蹋长者口，破唇折齿。
Thereupon, when the elder was just about to cough and spit, then, this foolish person immediately raised his leg and stepped on the elder’s mouth, splitting his lips and breaking his teeth.
长者语愚人言：「汝何以故蹋我唇口？」
The elder spoke to the foolish person, saying, ‘You, with what reason stepped on my lips and mouth?’
愚人答言：「若长者唾出口落地，左右谄者已得蹋去，我虽欲蹋，每常不及。以是之故，唾欲出口举脚先蹋，望得汝意。」
The foolish person replied, saying, ‘If the elder spits out of his mouth, with it falling to the ground, those on the left and right flattering already get to step on and wipe it off. I, although desiring to step on it, often cannot do this in time. With this reason, when your spit is about to come out, raising my foot to first step on it, hoping to get your favour.’
凡物须时，时未及到，强设功力返得苦恼，以是之故世人当知时与非时。
As all matters must be timely, with the time yet to be reached, to forcibly establish efforts and strength instead gets suffering and afflictions. With this reason, the world’s people should know what is timely and not timely.
[Note: Diligence should be applied appropriately in the right ways, at the right times and right places. Otherwise, even great diligence might not lead to ideal results, leading to great harms instead.]
全百喻
All Hundred Parables:
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