曲則全•枉則直•窪則盈敝則新•少則得•多則惑•是以聖人抱一[以]為天下式不自見故明不自是故彰不自伐故有功•不自矜故長•(•)夫唯不爭(•)故天下莫能與之爭古之所謂曲則全者豈虛言哉(•) •誠全而歸之What is wrong then becomes whole and perfect.What is bent then becomes straight.What is hollow then becomes filled.What is worn out then becomes new.Have little, then gain.Have too much, then become confused.Thus the sage :Embraces the One, thus serving as an example to theworld –He does not display himself, therefore he has insight.Does not consider himself correct, therefore hedistinguishes himself.Does not boast about himself, therefore he possessesmerit.Does not brag about himself, therefore he endures.Now : only because he does not strive,Therefore no one in the world can strive against him.That which the ancients say :“He who is wrong then becomes whole and perfect” –How can these be empty words?Be truly whole and perfect, and return to it.♦What iswrong{bent}thenbecomeswhole and perfect.What isbentthenbecomesstraight.♦What ishollowthenbecomesfilled.♦What isworn outthenbecomesnew.♦Havelittle,thengain.♦Havetoo much,thenbecomeconfused.♦Thus2thesage2:EmbracestheOne,thusservingas anexampleto theworld2–He doesnotdisplayhimself,thereforehe hasinsight. [show][wise,sight]Doesnotconsiderhimselfcorrect,thereforehedistinguisheshimself. [manifest,displayàstand out]♦Doesnotboastabouthimself,thereforehepossessesmerit.Doesnotbragabouthimself,thereforeheendures{leads}. [boast] [long,forever]♦Now:onlybecausehe doesnotstrive,Thereforeno onein theworld2canstriveagainsthim. [together with]♦That whichtheancients[they]say:“He whoiswrong{bent}thenbecomeswhole and perfect” –How canthese beemptywords?Betrulywhole and perfect,andreturntoitA.NotesA : there is no indication what the “it” is referring to in the original Chinese, so you decide! This symbol also means “them”,perhaps meaning “return to the ancients”?Cross-referencesembraces the One : #10serves as an example to the world : #28not displaying oneself (showing off) : #24, #47, #72, #77display…insight : #24correct…distinguishes : #24boast : #24, #30boast…merit : #24brag : #24, #30brag…endures : #24no striving : #3, #8, #66, #68, #73, #81no one in the world can strive against him : #66the ancients/elders : #14, #15, #38, #39, #62, #65, #68returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #25, #28, #34, #40, #52,#58, #60, #64, #65, #80Chapter Twenty Three希言自然(•)故飄風不終朝驟雨不終日•孰為此者天地•天地尚不能久而況於人乎(•)(•)故從事於道者道者同於道德者同於德失者同於失•同於道者道亦樂得之同於德者德亦樂得之同於失者失亦樂得之信不足焉有不信__Minimal words are naturally so.Therefore : strong winds do not last the entire morning,Sudden rains do not last the entire day.Who makes these things? Heaven and earth.Even heaven and earth can not maintain them forever,And so how much less can people?Therefore : of those who engage in Dao –He who Daos is one with Dao.He who Des is one with De.He who loses is one with the loss.For he who is one with Dao,Dao is also pleased to have him.For he who is one with De,De is also pleased to have him.For he who is one with loss,Loss is also pleased to have him.If you do not trust enough, then you will not haveanyone’s trust.♦Minimalwordsarenaturally so2. [rare,infrequent]Therefore:strong winds2donotlast theentiremorning{day}, [whirlwind,cyclonewind]♦Suddenrainsdonotlast theentireday.Whomakesthesethings?Heavenandearth. [entities]Evenheavenandearthcannotmaintain themforever, [for a long time]Andso howmuch lesscanpeople?[than]Therefore: ofthose whoengage2inDao–He whoDaosisone with2Dao.[samecompared toàsame as]♦He whoDesisone with2De. [samecompared to]♦He wholosesisone with2theloss. [samecompared to]Forhe whoisone with2Dao, [samecompared to]Daoisalsopleasedtohavehim. [gain,get]Forhe whoisone with2De, [samecompared to]Deisalsopleasedtohavehim.A[gain,get]Forhe whoisone with2loss, [samecompared to]Lossisalsopleasedtohavehim. [gain,get]If you donottrust*enough,thenyou willnothaveanyone’strust*.NotesA : this sentence and the next are very different across the sources, and the sentence before (about Dao) is not in the MWD’sCross-referencesnaturally so : #17, #25, #51, #64he who “possesses Dao” : #15, #24, #31, #65, #77not trusting enough : #17Chapter Twenty Four企者不立跨者不行自見者不明自是者不彰•自伐者無功自矜者不長其在道也(•)曰餘食贅行•物或惡之(•)故有道者不處•He who stands on tiptoe does not really stand.He who stands astride can not travel.He who displays himself does not have insight.He who considers himself correct does not distinguishhimself.He who boasts about himself is without merit.He who brags about himself does not endure.He who lives in Dao –Calls these leftover food and unnecessary behavior.Creatures detest them, no matter what.Therefore : he who possesses Dao does not live by them.He whostands on tiptoedoesnot[really]stand.He whostandsastridecannottravel.♦He whodisplayshimselfdoesnothaveinsight. [shows][wise,sight]♦He whoconsidershimselfcorrectdoesnotdistinguishhimself. [manifest,displayàstand out]♦He whoboastsabouthimselfiswithoutmerit.♦He whobragsabouthimselfdoesnotendure{lead}. [boasts] [long,forever]♦He[who]lives inDao–♦CallstheseleftoverfoodAandunnecessarybehavior. [excess, remainder]♦Creaturesdetestthem,no matter what.Therefore:he whopossessesDaodoesnotlive byBthem.NotesA :presumably, the inedible scraps (not something good, as in “leftover turkey”)B : there is some debate over the last symbol in this line – both FY and HSG use this symbol (making it a majority), and some WB versions also use it; other WB versions use处, thus readinghe whopossessesDaodoesnotdwellwith themCross-referencesnot displaying oneself (showing off) : #22, #47, #72, #77display…insight : #22correct…distinguishes : #22boast : #22, #30boast…merit : #22brag : #22, #30brag…endure : #22creatures detest them : #31he who “possesses Dao” : #15, #23, #31, #65, #77Chapter Twenty Five
曲則全•枉則直•窪則盈敝則新•少則得•多則惑•是以聖人抱一[以]為天下式不自見故明不自是故彰不自伐故有功•不自矜故長•(•)夫唯不爭(•)故天下莫能與之爭古之所謂曲則全者豈虛言哉(•) •誠全而歸之What is wrong then becomes whole and perfect.What is bent then becomes straight.What is hollow then becomes filled.What is worn out then becomes new.Have little, then gain.Have too much, then become confused.Thus the sage :Embraces the One, thus serving as an example to theworld –He does not display himself, therefore he has insight.Does not consider himself correct, therefore hedistinguishes himself.Does not boast about himself, therefore he possessesmerit.Does not brag about himself, therefore he endures.Now : only because he does not strive,Therefore no one in the world can strive against him.That which the ancients say :“He who is wrong then becomes whole and perfect” –How can these be empty words?Be truly whole and perfect, and return to it.♦What iswrong{bent}thenbecomeswhole and perfect.What isbentthenbecomesstraight.♦What ishollowthenbecomesfilled.♦What isworn outthenbecomesnew.♦Havelittle,thengain.♦Havetoo much,thenbecomeconfused.♦Thus2thesage2:EmbracestheOne,thusservingas anexampleto theworld2–He doesnotdisplayhimself,thereforehe hasinsight. [show][wise,sight]Doesnotconsiderhimselfcorrect,thereforehedistinguisheshimself. [manifest,displayàstand out]♦Doesnotboastabouthimself,thereforehepossessesmerit.Doesnotbragabouthimself,thereforeheendures{leads}. [boast] [long,forever]♦Now:onlybecausehe doesnotstrive,Thereforeno onein theworld2canstriveagainsthim. [together with]♦That whichtheancients[they]say:“He whoiswrong{bent}thenbecomeswhole and perfect” –How canthese beemptywords?Betrulywhole and perfect,andreturntoitA.NotesA : there is no indication what the “it” is referring to in the original Chinese, so you decide! This symbol also means “them”,perhaps meaning “return to the ancients”?Cross-referencesembraces the One : #10serves as an example to the world : #28not displaying oneself (showing off) : #24, #47, #72, #77display…insight : #24correct…distinguishes : #24boast : #24, #30boast…merit : #24brag : #24, #30brag…endures : #24no striving : #3, #8, #66, #68, #73, #81no one in the world can strive against him : #66the ancients/elders : #14, #15, #38, #39, #62, #65, #68returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #25, #28, #34, #40, #52,#58, #60, #64, #65, #80
曲則全•
枉則直•
窪則盈
敝則新•
少則得•
多則惑•
是以聖人
抱一[以]為天下式
不自見故明
不自是故彰
不自伐故有功•
不自矜故長•
(•)夫唯不爭
(•)故天下莫能與之爭
古之所謂
曲則全者
豈虛言哉(•) •
誠全而歸之
What is wrong then becomes whole and perfect.
What is bent then becomes straight.
What is hollow then becomes filled.
What is worn out then becomes new.
Have little, then gain.
Have too much, then become confused.
Thus the sage :
Embraces the One, thus serving as an example to the
world –
He does not display himself, therefore he has insight.
Does not consider himself correct, therefore he
distinguishes himself.
Does not boast about himself, therefore he possesses
merit.
Does not brag about himself, therefore he endures.
Now : only because he does not strive,
Therefore no one in the world can strive against him.
That which the ancients say :
“He who is wrong then becomes whole and perfect” –
How can these be empty words?
Be truly whole and perfect, and return to it.
♦What iswrong{bent}thenbecomeswhole and perfect.
What isbentthenbecomesstraight.
♦What ishollowthenbecomesfilled.
♦What isworn outthenbecomesnew.
♦Havelittle,thengain.
♦Havetoo much,thenbecomeconfused.
♦Thus2thesage2:
EmbracestheOne,thusservingas anexampleto the
world2–
He doesnotdisplayhimself,thereforehe hasinsight. [show][wise,sight]
Doesnotconsiderhimselfcorrect,thereforehe
distinguisheshimself. [manifest,displayàstand out]
♦Doesnotboastabouthimself,thereforehepossesses
merit.
Doesnotbragabouthimself,thereforeheendures{leads}. [boast] [long,forever]
♦Now:onlybecausehe doesnotstrive,
Thereforeno onein theworld2canstriveagainsthim. [together with]
♦That whichtheancients[they]say:
“He whoiswrong{bent}thenbecomes
whole and perfect” –
How canthese beemptywords?
Betrulywhole and perfect,andreturntoitA.
Notes
A : there is no indication what the “it” is referring to in the original Chinese, so you decide! This symbol also means “them”,perhaps meaning “return to the ancients”?
Cross-references
embraces the One : #10
serves as an example to the world : #28
not displaying oneself (showing off) : #24, #47, #72, #77
display…insight : #24
correct…distinguishes : #24
boast : #24, #30
boast…merit : #24
brag : #24, #30
brag…endures : #24
no striving : #3, #8, #66, #68, #73, #81
no one in the world can strive against him : #66
the ancients/elders : #14, #15, #38, #39, #62, #65, #68
returning : #14, #16, #19, #20, #25, #28, #34, #40, #52,
#58, #60, #64, #65, #80
Chapter Twenty Three
希言自然(•)故飄風不終朝驟雨不終日•孰為此者天地•天地尚不能久而況於人乎(•)(•)故從事於道者道者同於道德者同於德失者同於失•同於道者道亦樂得之同於德者德亦樂得之同於失者失亦樂得之信不足焉有不信__Minimal words are naturally so.Therefore : strong winds do not last the entire morning,Sudden rains do not last the entire day.Who makes these things? Heaven and earth.Even heaven and earth can not maintain them forever,And so how much less can people?Therefore : of those who engage in Dao –He who Daos is one with Dao.He who Des is one with De.He who loses is one with the loss.For he who is one with Dao,Dao is also pleased to have him.For he who is one with De,De is also pleased to have him.For he who is one with loss,Loss is also pleased to have him.If you do not trust enough, then you will not haveanyone’s trust.♦Minimalwordsarenaturally so2. [rare,infrequent]Therefore:strong winds2donotlast theentiremorning{day}, [whirlwind,cyclonewind]♦Suddenrainsdonotlast theentireday.Whomakesthesethings?Heavenandearth. [entities]Evenheavenandearthcannotmaintain themforever, [for a long time]Andso howmuch lesscanpeople?[than]Therefore: ofthose whoengage2inDao–He whoDaosisone with2Dao.[samecompared toàsame as]♦He whoDesisone with2De. [samecompared to]♦He wholosesisone with2theloss. [samecompared to]Forhe whoisone with2Dao, [samecompared to]Daoisalsopleasedtohavehim. [gain,get]Forhe whoisone with2De, [samecompared to]Deisalsopleasedtohavehim.A[gain,get]Forhe whoisone with2loss, [samecompared to]Lossisalsopleasedtohavehim. [gain,get]If you donottrust*enough,thenyou willnothaveanyone’strust*.NotesA : this sentence and the next are very different across the sources, and the sentence before (about Dao) is not in the MWD’sCross-referencesnaturally so : #17, #25, #51, #64he who “possesses Dao” : #15, #24, #31, #65, #77not trusting enough : #17
希言自然
(•)故飄風不終朝
驟雨不終日•
孰為此者天地•
天地尚不能久
而況於人乎(•)
(•)故從事於道者
道者同於道
德者同於德
失者同於失•
同於道者
道亦樂得之
同於德者
德亦樂得之
同於失者
失亦樂得之
信不足焉有不信__
Minimal words are naturally so.
Therefore : strong winds do not last the entire morning,
Sudden rains do not last the entire day.
Who makes these things? Heaven and earth.
Even heaven and earth can not maintain them forever,
And so how much less can people?
Therefore : of those who engage in Dao –
He who Daos is one with Dao.
He who Des is one with De.
He who loses is one with the loss.
For he who is one with Dao,
Dao is also pleased to have him.
For he who is one with De,
De is also pleased to have him.
For he who is one with loss,
Loss is also pleased to have him.
If you do not trust enough, then you will not have
anyone’s trust.
♦Minimalwordsarenaturally so2. [rare,infrequent]
Therefore:strong winds2donotlast theentire
morning{day}, [whirlwind,cyclonewind]
♦Suddenrainsdonotlast theentireday.
Whomakesthesethings?Heavenandearth. [entities]
Evenheavenandearthcannotmaintain themforever, [for a long time]
Andso howmuch lesscanpeople?[than]
Therefore: ofthose whoengage2inDao–
He whoDaosisone with2Dao.
[samecompared toàsame as]
♦He whoDesisone with2De. [samecompared to]
♦He wholosesisone with2theloss. [samecompared to]
Forhe whoisone with2Dao, [samecompared to]
Daoisalsopleasedtohavehim. [gain,get]
Forhe whoisone with2De, [samecompared to]
Deisalsopleasedtohavehim.A[gain,get]
Forhe whoisone with2loss, [samecompared to]
Lossisalsopleasedtohavehim. [gain,get]
If you donottrust*enough,thenyou willnothave
anyone’strust*.
Notes
A : this sentence and the next are very different across the sources, and the sentence before (about Dao) is not in the MWD’s
Cross-references
naturally so : #17, #25, #51, #64
he who “possesses Dao” : #15, #24, #31, #65, #77
not trusting enough : #17
Chapter Twenty Four
企者不立跨者不行自見者不明自是者不彰•自伐者無功自矜者不長其在道也(•)曰餘食贅行•物或惡之(•)故有道者不處•He who stands on tiptoe does not really stand.He who stands astride can not travel.He who displays himself does not have insight.He who considers himself correct does not distinguishhimself.He who boasts about himself is without merit.He who brags about himself does not endure.He who lives in Dao –Calls these leftover food and unnecessary behavior.Creatures detest them, no matter what.Therefore : he who possesses Dao does not live by them.He whostands on tiptoedoesnot[really]stand.He whostandsastridecannottravel.♦He whodisplayshimselfdoesnothaveinsight. [shows][wise,sight]♦He whoconsidershimselfcorrectdoesnotdistinguishhimself. [manifest,displayàstand out]♦He whoboastsabouthimselfiswithoutmerit.♦He whobragsabouthimselfdoesnotendure{lead}. [boasts] [long,forever]♦He[who]lives inDao–♦CallstheseleftoverfoodAandunnecessarybehavior. [excess, remainder]♦Creaturesdetestthem,no matter what.Therefore:he whopossessesDaodoesnotlive byBthem.NotesA :presumably, the inedible scraps (not something good, as in “leftover turkey”)B : there is some debate over the last symbol in this line – both FY and HSG use this symbol (making it a majority), and some WB versions also use it; other WB versions use处, thus readinghe whopossessesDaodoesnotdwellwith themCross-referencesnot displaying oneself (showing off) : #22, #47, #72, #77display…insight : #22correct…distinguishes : #22boast : #22, #30boast…merit : #22brag : #22, #30brag…endure : #22creatures detest them : #31he who “possesses Dao” : #15, #23, #31, #65, #77
企者不立
跨者不行
自見者不明
自是者不彰•
自伐者無功
自矜者不長
其在道也(•)
曰餘食贅行•
物或惡之
(•)故有道者不處•
He who stands on tiptoe does not really stand.
He who stands astride can not travel.
He who displays himself does not have insight.
He who considers himself correct does not distinguish
himself.
He who boasts about himself is without merit.
He who brags about himself does not endure.
He who lives in Dao –Calls these leftover food and unnecessary behavior.Creatures detest them, no matter what.Therefore : he who possesses Dao does not live by them.
He whostands on tiptoedoesnot[really]stand.He whostandsastridecannottravel.
♦He whodisplayshimselfdoesnothaveinsight. [shows][wise,sight]
♦He whoconsidershimselfcorrectdoesnotdistinguish
himself. [manifest,displayàstand out]
♦He whoboastsabouthimselfiswithoutmerit.
♦He whobragsabouthimselfdoesnotendure{lead}. [boasts] [long,forever]
♦He[who]lives inDao–♦CallstheseleftoverfoodAandunnecessarybehavior. [excess, remainder]
♦Creaturesdetestthem,no matter what.Therefore:he whopossessesDaodoesnotlive byBthem.
Notes
A :presumably, the inedible scraps (not something good, as in “leftover turkey”)
B : there is some debate over the last symbol in this line – both FY and HSG use this symbol (making it a majority), and some WB versions also use it; other WB versions use处, thus reading
he whopossessesDaodoesnotdwellwith them
Cross-references
not displaying oneself (showing off) : #22, #47, #72, #77
display…insight : #22
correct…distinguishes : #22
boast : #22, #30
boast…merit : #22
brag : #22, #30
brag…endure : #22
creatures detest them : #31
he who “possesses Dao” : #15, #23, #31, #65, #77
Chapter Twenty Five