《道德经》英译（第四十一章）

上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。不笑不足以为道。故建言有之：

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明道若昧，道若若退，夷道若类，上德若谷，大白若辱，广德若不足，建德若偷，质真若渝。大方无隅，大器晚成，大音希声，大象无形。

 

道隐无名。夫唯道。善贷且成。

 

Chapter 41

 

When the man of highest capacities hears Tao

He does his best to put it into practice.

When the man of middling capacity hears Tao

He is in two minds about it.

When the man of low capacity hears Tao

He laughs loudly at it.

If he did not laugh, it would not be worth the name of Tao.

Therefore the proverb has it:

‘The way¹ out into the light often looks dark,

The way that goes ahead often looks as if it went back.’

The way that is least hilly often looks as if it went up and down,

The ‘power’ that is rally loftiest looks like an abyss,

What is sheerest white looks blurred.

The ‘power’ that is most sufficing looks inadequate,

The ‘power’ that stands firmest looks flimsy.

What is in its natural, pure state looks faded;

The largest square has no corners,

The greatest vessel takes the longest to finish,²

Great music has the faintest³ notes,

The Great Form is without shape.

For Tao is hidden and nameless.

Yet Tao is hidden and nameless.

Yet Tao alone supports⁴ all things and brings them to fulfillment.

 

1. Tao

2. Metaphorical meaning. ‘The greatest capacities develop latest’.

3. ‘most rarified.’

4. a commercial metaphor. Literally ‘backs financially’.