DAO DE JING · THE DAO
Chapter 20
絕學無憂，唯之與阿，相去幾何？善之與惡，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。
荒兮其未央哉﹗
眾人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登臺。
我獨泊兮其未兆，如嬰兒之未孩；
儽儽兮若無所歸。
眾人皆有餘，而我獨若遺。
我愚人之心也哉﹗
沌沌兮，
俗人昭昭，
我獨昏昏。俗人察察，
我獨悶悶。澹兮其若海，
飂兮若無止。
眾人皆有以，
而我獨頑似鄙。
我獨異於人，而貴食母。
JAMES LEGGE · ENGLISH TRANSLATION
1.
When we renounce learning we have no troubles. The (ready) 'yes,' and (flattering) 'yea;'— Small is the difference they display. But mark their issues, good and ill;— What space the gulf between shall fill?
What all men fear is indeed to be feared; but how wide and without end is the range of questions (asking to be discussed)!
2. The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence. I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of men all have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost everything. My mind is that of a stupid man; I am in a state of chaos.
Ordinary men look bright and intelligent, while I alone seem to be benighted. They look full of discrimination, while I alone am dull and confused. I seem to be carried about as on the sea, drifting as if I had nowhere to rest. All men have their spheres of action, while I alone seem dull and incapable, like a rude borderer. (Thus) I alone am different from other men, but I value the nursing-mother (the Tao).
About these texts
The Chinese follows the Wang Bi recension in the Sibu Beiyao edition, transcribed on Wikisource. The English is James Legge’s translation.
They are paired by chapter number. Wording and punctuation can differ between editions. The historical text and translation are distinct from any AI reflection.
The Chinese transcription is adapted by extracting chapter text and omitting commentary. Editorial contributions are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0; the historical work is public domain. English source: Project Gutenberg, ebook 216; the underlying Legge translation is public domain in the USA.