Abstract: Humboldt holds that translatability and untranslatability is dialectical; that different translation strategies have to be adopted when targeting at different audience and purpose; that the potentiality of the TL should be fully developed; that the first requirement for the translation of ancient classics is “simple fidelity” and the highest goal of it is to have a touch of foreign color and that translations are as many images of the same spirit: each renders the spirit it has been able to grasp and represent, so it is necessary to have several different versions. In fact, all these ideas of Humboldt may serve as guidance for the translation of Chinese Classics into English today.