【原文】

天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已。皆知善之为善，斯不善已。

故有无相生，难易相成，长短相形，高下相盈，音声相和，前后相随。恒也。

是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教；万物作而弗始，生而弗有，为而弗恃，功成而不居。

夫唯弗居，是以不去。



【现代汉语】

所有人都能分辨美的事物，这就导致了丑的概念的产生；所有人都能分辨善的事物，那么恶的概念就产生了。

存在与不存在、困难的和容易的、长和短、高和低、乐器的声与人的音、前与后等等都是互为因果、相互创造，相互补充的。这是永远不变的道理。

圣人（合于'道'的人）以顺应自然发展、辅助自然发展的'无为non-action'态度去做事；不依赖繁杂、苛刻的政令条文去约束别人；让万物兴起而不加刻意地影响；创造有益社会的成果而不占有成果；成就事业却不自我夸耀。

正因为圣人有这样的行为和品格，其成就是不会泯灭的，能够造福自然和后代。



【英译】

All the people can distinguish the beauty. So, the concept of uglily was produced. Evil be existing because all the people know what is good.

So it is that existence and non-existence give birth the one to (the idea of) the other; that d其名曰善ifficulty and ease produce the one (the idea of) the other; that length and shortness fashion out the one the figure of the other; that (the ideas of) height and lowness arise from the contrast of the one with the other; that the musical notes and tones become harmonious through the relation of one with another; and that being before and behind give the idea of one following another.

The sage (people accord with the standard of Tao's) manages affairs in the attitude that obey the principle of natural and assistant the natural development. This kind of attitude is so called non-action. He also manages people without multifarious, rigorous order and regulations. The sage promotes natural developing freely without desirably influence. He creates valuable harvest but do not possess it. He never be supercilious no matter what great achievement he gets.

His achievement and harvest will exist forever because of his magnificent character.

Note: The sage of Taoism can understand the natural principle accurately. He always pays attention to exploiting his indwelling vitality and spurning greed, fame and gain. The sages of Taoism (people accord with the standard of Tao's) always seek the methods to exploring creativity and not expanding any possessive actuation.



【备注】

道家的哲学思想中的圣人能够体认自然，拓展内在的生命，摒弃名利和欲望，使自己的心灵能自由活动。圣人追求最大限度地发挥创造的动力，而不伸展任何占有的冲动。这便是合于道的人。
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