第22章 · 原文
现代白话译文
委曲反而能保全，弯曲反而能伸直，低洼反而能充盈，破旧反而能更新，少取反而能多得，贪多反而能迷惑。所以，圣人坚守这一原则作为天下的范式。不自我表现，反而能显明；不自以为是，反而能彰显；不自我夸耀，反而能有功；不自我骄傲，反而能长久。正因为不与人争，所以天下没有人能和他争。古人所说的委曲能够保全等话，怎么会是空话呢？它确实能够保全并归向大道。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
Bowed down then preserved; Bent then straight; Hollow then full; Worn then new; A little then benefited; A lot then perplexed. Therefore the sage embraces the One and is a model for the empire. He does not show himself, and so is conspicuous; He does not consider himself right, and so is illustrious; He does not brag, and so has merit; He does not boast, and so endures. It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position to contend with him. The way the ancients had it, 'Bowed down then preserved', is no empty saying. Truly it enables one to be preserved to the end.
Robert Henricks
1. Bent over, you'll be preserved whole; 2. When twisted, you'll be upright; 3. When hollowed out, you'll be full; 4. When worn out, you'll be renewed; 5. When you have little, you'll attain [much]; 6. With much, you'll be confused. 7. Therefore the Sage holds on to the One and in this way becomes the shepherd of the world. 8. He does not show himself off; therefore he becomes prominent. 9. He does not put himself on display; therefore he brightly shines. 10. He does not brag about himself; therefore he receives credit. 11. He does not praise his own deeds; therefore he can long endure. 12. It is only because he does not compete that, therefore, no one is able to compete with him. 13. The so-called "Bent over you'll be preserved whole" of the ancients 14. Was an expression that was really close to it! 15. Truly "wholeness" will belong to him.
Addiss & Lombardo
Bent then whole. Crooked then straight. Hollow then full. Worn then new. Few then many. Many then confused. Therefore the sage embraces the one and becomes the model of the world. Not showing himself, he is enlightened. Not justifying himself, he is distinguished. Not boasting, he has merit. Not bragging, he endures. Because he does not contend, no one in the world can contend with him. The saying 'bent then whole' - are these empty words? Truly, he attains and returns.
Arthur Waley
"To remain whole, be twisted!" To become straight, let yourself be bent. To become full, be hollow. Be tattered, that you may be renewed. Those that have little, may get more, Those that have much, are but perplexed. Therefore the Sage Clasps the Primal Unity, Testing by it everything under heaven. He does not show himself; therefore he is seen everywhere. He does not define himself, therefore he is distinct. He does not boast of what he will do, therefore he succeeds. He is not proud of his work, and therefore it endures. He does not contend, And for that very reason no one under heaven can contend with him. So then we see that the ancient saying "To remain whole, be twisted!" was no idle word; For true wholeness can only be achieved by return.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
If you want to become whole, let yourself be partial. If you want to become straight, let yourself be crooked. If you want to become full, let yourself be empty. If you want to be reborn, let yourself die. If you want to be given everything, give everything up. The Master, by residing in the Tao, sets an example for all beings. Because he doesn't display himself, people can see his light. Because he has nothing to prove, people can trust his words. Because he doesn't know who he is, people recognize themselves in him. Because he has no goal in mind, everything he does succeeds. When the ancient Masters said, "If you want to be given everything, give everything up," they weren't using empty phrases. Only in being lived by the Tao can you be truly yourself.