Chapter 41 Those who have top abilities

 

Chapter 41

上士聞道,勤而行之;中士聞道,若存若亡;下士聞道,大笑之,不笑不足以為道。故建言有之,明道若昧,進道若退,夷道若纇,上德若谷,大白若辱,廣德若不足,建德若偷,質真若窬,大方無隅,大器晚成,大音希聲,大象無形,道隱無名,夫唯道,善貸且成。

shang shi wen dao, qin er xing zhi
上士聞道,勤而行之

Those who have top abilities of perception will diligently abide by dao after they have heard about it.

zhong shi wen dao, ruo cun ruo wang
中士聞道,若存若亡

Those who have average abilities of perception will be jumping between certainty and uncertainty about dao after they have heard about it.

xia shi wen dao, da
xiao zhi, bu xiao bu zu yi wei dao
下士聞道,大笑之,不笑不足以為道

Those who have low abilities of perception will laugh about dao after they have heard about it. If they do not laugh, it will not be dao at all.

gu jian yan you zhi
故建言有之

There is some advice for enlightenment by dao.

ming dao ruo mei
明道若昧

Enlightenment by dao is deemed as dim as possible to begin with.

jin dao ruo tui
進道若退

Enlightenment by dao is deemed to retreat as the way to advance.

yi dao ruo lei
夷道若纇

Enlightenment by dao is deemed to clear away obstacles by untying knots.

shang de ruo gu
上德若谷

The leader’s de should be as vast as a valley.

da bai ruo ru
大白若辱

The magnificent nobility of such a leader is as if it were disgraceful.

guang de ruo bu zu
廣德若不足

Enrich your de as if it is never enough.

jian de ruo tou
建德若偷

Establish your de unnoticeably as if you were doing a stealthy manoeuvre.

zhi zhen ruo yu
質真若窬

Its nature is so unquestionable even if using some unorthodox way to advance.

da fang wu yu
大方無隅

The magnificent direction is without directive and boundary.

da qi wan cheng
大器晚成

The magnificent social device will take time to accomplish.

da yin xi sheng
大音希聲

Its magnificent sound is too thin to be heard.

da xiang wu xing
大象無形

Its magnificent appearance is formless.

dao yin wu ming
道隱無名

Dao is hidden in the world beyond knowledge.

fu wei dao, shan dai
qie cheng
夫唯道,善貸且成

Applying dao well enough is already half way to success.