【原文】听之术，曰：勿望而距，勿望而许。许之则失守，距之则闭塞。高山，仰之不可极也；深渊，度之不可测也。神明之德，正静其极也。《九守》

【汉解】听取情况的方法是：不要一下子就拒绝，也不要一下子就肯定。肯定则可能失误，拒绝则可能闭塞。要象高山一样，仰视看不到顶；象深渊一样，计量摸不到底。象神明的德性一样，端正、冷静到极点。

【英译】In respect to the art of hearing, it is said: Do not make hasty refusals, do not make hasty promises. Having promised, one loses control; having refused one shuts the door. Be like a high mountain; looking at it, one cannot see its top. Be like a deep abyss; measuring it, one cannot plumb its depths. Be like the power of the spirits, correct and quiescent in the extreme.