《爱莲说》是北宋理学家周敦颐创做的一篇散文。这篇文章通过对莲的形象和品质的描写，歌颂了莲花坚贞的品格，从而也表现了作者洁身自爱的高洁人格和洒落的胸襟。

周敦颐 《爱莲说》

水陆草木之花，可爱者甚蕃。晋陶渊明独爱菊；自李唐来，世人盛爱牡丹；予独爱莲之出淤泥而不染，濯清涟而不妖，中通外直，不蔓不枝，香远益清，亭亭静植，可远观而不可亵玩焉。

予谓菊，花之隐逸者也；牡丹，花之富贵者也；莲，花之君子者也。噫！菊之爱，陶后鲜有闻；莲之爱，同予者何人？牡丹之爱，宜乎众矣。

Love of Water-lily

Lovers offlowering plants and shrubs we have had by scores, but Tao Qian alone devotedhimself to the chrysanthemum. Since the opening days of the Tang dynasty, ithas been fashionable to admire the peony; but my favourite is the water-lily.How stainless it rises from its slimy bed! How modestly it reposes on the clearpool — an emblem of purity and truth! Symmetrically perfect, its subtle perfumeis wafted far and wide, while there it rests in spotless state, something to beregarded reverently from a distance, and not be profaned by familiar approach.

In my opinionthe chrysanthemum is the flower of retirement and culture; the peony the flowerof rank and wealth; the water-lily, the Lady Virtue sans pareille.

Alas! few haveloved the chrysanthemum since Tao Qian, and none love the water-lily likemyself, whereas the peony is a general favourite with all mankind.