道德经上篇:《道经》
第二十四章
【原文】
企者不立①;跨者不行②;自见者不明;自是者不彰③;自伐者无功;自矜者不长④。其在道也.曰:余食赘(zhuì)形⑤。物或恶之,故有道者不处。
【注释】
①企:就是翘起足,用脚尖站立。
②跨:加大步伐,想要快速行走。
③彰:明显,显著。
④长:长久。
⑤赘(zhuì):多余的。
【译文】
踮起脚跟用脚尖站立,是站不牢的。脚步跨得太大,是走不了太远的。自逞己见的,反而得不到彰明。自以为是的,反而得不到显昭。自我夸耀的,反而建立不了功勋。自高自大的,反而不可能长久。能从“道”的角度衡量,以上这些急躁炫耀的行为,可以说都是剩饭赘瘤,惹人厌恶。所以懂得道的规律的人是不会这样做的。
English Translation
Version 1:by Daniel Baida Su and Shangyu Chen
Those who stand on tiptoe cannot remain standing;
Those who stride cannot walk.
Blind are those who think they can see;
Foolish are those who think they are wise.
Those who boast have not achieved;
Those who brag cannot be leaders.
Tao views these as leftover food and burdens—detestable.
Those who follow Tao will not do such things.
Version 2:by John C. H. Wu