← Table of contents Tao Te Ching illustration
绝学无忧。
Jué xué wú yōu.
Abandon learning, end your troubles.
唯之与阿,
Wéi zhī yǔ ā,
What difference between yes and no?
相去几何?
Xiāng qù jǐ hé?
What difference between good and bad?
善之与恶,
Shàn zhī yǔ è,
Must you fear what others fear?
相去若何?
Xiāng qù ruò hé?
How absurd!
人之所畏,
Rén zhī suǒ wèi,
People are cheerful,
不可不畏。
Bù kě bù wèi.
As if at a great feast,
荒兮其未央哉!
Huāng xī qí wèi yāng zāi!
Or climbing a spring terrace.
众人熙熙,
Zhòng rén xī xī,
I alone am still,
如享太牢,
Rú xiǎng tài láo,
Untouched, like an infant before it smiles.
如登春台。
Rú dēng chūn tái.
I seem forlorn,
我独泊兮其未兆,
Wǒ dú bó xī qí wèi zhào,
As if I have no home.
如婴儿之未孩。
Rú yīng ér zhī wèi hái.
Others have plenty,
兮,若无所归。
Xī, ruò wú suǒ guī.
I alone am empty.
众人皆有馀,
Zhòng rén jiē yǒu yú,
I am a fool, so it seems,
而我独若遗。
Ér wǒ dú ruò yí.
Confused and muddled.
我愚人之心也哉!
Wǒ yú rén zhī xīn yě zāi!
Common folks are bright,
沌沌兮。
Dùn dùn xī.
I alone am dim.
俗人昭昭,
Sú rén zhāo zhāo,
Common folks are sharp,
我独昏昏。
Wǒ dú hūn hūn.
I alone am dull.
俗人察察,
Sú rén chá chá,
Drifting like the sea,
我独闷闷。
Wǒ dú mèn mèn.
Blowing aimlessly like the wind.
澹兮其若海,
Dàn xī qí ruò hǎi,
Everyone has a purpose,
飉兮若无止。
Piāo xī ruò wú zhǐ.
I alone am ignorant.
众人皆有以,
Zhòng rén jiē yǒu yǐ,
I am different from others,
我独顽且鄙。
Wǒ dú wán qiě bǐ.
I cherish nourishment from the Great Mother.