文中,“仕而优则学”,辜鸿铭译为“An officer who has exceptional abilities, more than sufficient to carry out his duties, should devote himself to study”,“一个拥有超过履行其职责之外的优秀天资的官员,应该致身于学习”。其中,“仕”指官员;“优”译为“has exceptional abilities, more than sufficient to carry out his duties”,“拥有能够超过履行他的职责之外的优秀天资”。“学而优则仕”,译为“A student who has exceptional abilities, more than sufficient to carry on his studies, should enter the public service”,“一个拥有超过从事其学业之外的优秀天资的学生,应该参加公务服务”。其中,“学”指学生;“优”译为“has exceptional abilities, more than sufficient to carry on his studies”,“拥有超过从事其学业之外的优秀天资”,也即“行有余力”之意;“仕”指参加公务服务,也即出仕为官。