第24章 · 原文
现代白话译文
踮起脚尖想要站得高的人反而站不稳；迈着大步想要走得快的人反而走不远。自我表现的人反而不能显明；自以为是的人反而不能彰显；自我夸耀的人反而不能建立功勋；自高自大的人反而不能长久。从道的角度看，这些叫作剩饭赘瘤。人们厌恶它们，所以有道的人不这样做。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
He who tiptoes cannot stand; he who strides cannot walk. He who shows himself is not conspicuous; He who considers himself right is not illustrious; He who brags will have no merit; He who boasts will not endure. From the point of view of the way these are 'excessive food and useless excresences'. As there are Things that detest them, he who has the way does not abide in them.
Robert Henricks
1. One who boasts is not established; 2. One who shows himself off does not become prominent; 3. One who puts himself on display does not brightly shine; 4. One who brags about himself gests no credit; 5. One who praises himself does not long endure. 6. In the Way, such things are called: 7. "Surplus food and redundant action." 8. And with things — there are those who hate them. 9. Therefore, the one with the Way in them does not dwell.
Addiss & Lombardo
On tiptoe, one does not stand. Striding, one does not go forward. Showing oneself, one is not enlightened. Justifying oneself, one is not distinguished. Boasting, one has no merit. Bragging, one does not endure. From the way's perspective, this is called extra food and action. All things detest it. Therefore those with the way do not dwell in it.
Arthur Waley
'He who stands on tip-toe, does not stand firm; He who takes the longest strides, does not walk the fastest." He who does his own looking sees little, He who defines himself is not therefore distinct. He who boasts of what he will do succeeds in nothing; He who is proud of his work, achieves nothing that endures. Of these, from the standpoint of the Way, it is said: "Pass round superfluous dishes to those that have already had enough, And no creature but will reject them in disgust." That is why he that possesses Tao does not linger.
林语堂
This version is not yet available.
Stephen Mitchell
He who stands on tiptoe doesn't stand firm. He who rushes ahead doesn't go far. He who tries to shine dims his own light. He who defines himself can't know who he really is. He who has power over others can't empower himself. He who clings to his work will create nothing that endures. If you want to accord with the Tao, just do your job, then let go.