Virtue and Knowledge Produce Good Writing
作者德行、学养深厚，作品的内容自然就充实而有气势，语言表达也就能够做到合宜。“气”兼文章精神气质与作者人格境界而言，“言宜”则是指文辞能够达意而且声韵和谐。出自韩愈（768—824）《答李翊书》。韩愈志在“学古道则欲兼通其辞”，认为“气”与“言”二者不可分割，其内在逻辑是：作者德行、学养深厚，即内在精神的充实，是作品内容充实的前提；作者精神充实和作品内容充实又是文章气势盛大、文辞合宜的前提。作者德行深厚则无杂念，学养则越发深厚，思维则活跃而富有激情，在写文章时就能够调动自己的全部学识、生活阅历及创作经验等，因而写出的文章也就容易做到既有气势又表达合宜。韩愈并不轻视语言形式，“言宜”本身也需要掌握写作文章的规范和技巧，不过他的重点一是突出文以贯道、传道的主张，二是强调“气势盛大”即主体学养、经验、识见、语言经验等各方面积累的重要性。作者的自身修养决定了作品的精神境界和气势，这种精神境界和气势可以驱动语言表达自然合宜，而且也让读者感觉到合宜。
First used in "A Letter of Response to Li Yi" by Han Yu (768-824), this concept means that when a writer is virtuous and well-educated, his work will be rich in content and have a powerful message with the use of appropriate language and expressions. To make writings expressive, harmoniously rhymed and inspirational, their authors should have a lofty character. Han Yu aimed to learn the ancient thoughts by gaining a full understanding of ancient texts. He believed that a strong inner aspiration and a noble character are as important as linguistic expression. This means that the author's integrity and good education are the prerequisite for writing a good article. If one has moral integrity and is free from distraction, well-educated, passionate, and has an active mind, then he can use all his knowledge, life experience and creative experience to write good articles. But this does not mean that Han Yu ignored the form of language. Appropriate language requires mastery of the rules and techniques of writing. He emphasizes, however, that writing should deliver a good message. He also holds that one should have good education, rich experience, broad knowledge, and language skills. Good self-cultivation creates an appropriate and natural form of linguistic expression, thus enhancing the writing's appeal.
引例 Citations：
◎气盛则言之短长与声之高下者皆宜。（韩愈《答李翊书》）
文章的气势很强，那么句子长短搭配和音调的抑扬顿挫自然都会恰当。
If a piece of writing has a vigorous style, the length of the sentences will be well-balanced and the choice of tone and cadence will be appropriate. (Han Yu: A Letter of Response to Li Yi)
◎《上宰相第三书》，虽少作而精心撰结，气盛言宜。（包世臣《艺舟双楫·书韩文后上篇》）
《上宰相第三书》这篇文章，虽然篇幅短小但却是精心撰写的，作品内容充实而气势盛大，语言表达合宜。
"The Third Letter to the Prime Minister" is short but well-written. It is rich in content and has a powerful message, and its style is appropriate. (Bao Shichen: Paired Oaks for the Boat of Art)
◎欧阳永叔始宗昌黎，其徒苏轼、苏辙益因师说而大其焰，要不出气盛言宜之一途。（王礼培《小招隐馆谈艺录·论历代文派》）
从欧阳修开始宗法韩愈，到其门徒苏轼、苏辙则继承师说而愈益发扬光大，其精要之处不外乎“气盛言宜”这一宗旨。
Ouyang Xiu followed the example of Han Yu. Carrying on his ideas, his followers Su Shi and Su Zhe further developed his teachings, and their writings are all based on the principle that virtue and knowledge produce a good piece of writing. (Wang Lipei: Talks About Writing at the Xiaozhaoyin Studio)
推荐：教育部 国家语委
供稿：北京外国语大学 外语教学与研究出版社
责任编辑：钱耐安
