坐而论道 to sit and discuss principles
Explanation
指坐着空谈大道理，不付诸实践。比喻空谈理论，不进行实际行动。
Refers to sitting and talking about great principles without putting them into practice. It is a metaphor for talking about theories without taking practical actions.
Origin Story
春秋时期，孔子周游列国，宣传他的儒家思想，但屡屡碰壁。最终，他回到了鲁国，受到了冉求的帮助。在鲁国，孔子致力于整理和编辑古代典籍，例如《诗经》、《尚书》、《礼记》、《乐经》等，并撰写了《春秋》。同时，他还开坛讲学，与弟子们坐而论道，探讨各种人生哲理和治国之道。他的弟子众多，一度达到了三千人之众。孔子的讲学，并不仅仅是空谈，他将儒家思想与实际生活相结合，引导弟子们积极参与社会实践，在实践中学习和完善儒家思想。
During the Spring and Autumn period, Confucius traveled to various states, promoting his Confucian philosophy, but was repeatedly rejected. Eventually, he returned to Lu and received help from Ran Qiu. In Lu, Confucius dedicated himself to organizing and editing ancient texts such as the Classic of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Rites, and the Book of Music, and wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals. At the same time, he opened a lecture hall and discussed with his disciples various life philosophies and principles of governance. His disciples were numerous, once reaching 3,000. Confucius' lectures were not just empty talk, he combined Confucian philosophy with daily life, guiding his disciples to actively participate in social practice, learning and improving Confucian philosophy in practice.
Usage
常用来批评那些只会空谈理论，而不付诸实践的人。
Often used to criticize those who only talk about theories without putting them into practice.
Examples
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会议上，他只顾坐而论道，却没提出任何实际可行的方案。
huiyi shang, ta zhi gu zuo er lun dao, que mei tichu renhe shiji kexing de fang'an.
At the meeting, he only talked about principles, but didn't put forward any practical and feasible plan.
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空谈误国，坐而论道解决不了实际问题。
kongtan wuguo, zuo er lun dao jiejue buliao shiji wenti
Empty words ruin the country; practical problems cannot be solved through mere discussion