第48章 · 原文
现代白话译文
求学是每天增加知识，修道是每天减少欲望。减少又减少，直到无为的境界。无为却没有什么做不成的。治理天下常常靠无为而治，至于有为去治理，就不足以治理天下了。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
In the pursuit of learning one knows more every day; In the pursuit of the way one does less every day. One does less and less until one does nothing at all, and when one does nothing at all there is nothing that is left undone. It is always through not meddling that the empire is won. Should you meddle, then you are not equal to the task of winning the empire.
Robert Henricks
1. Those who work at their studies increase day after day; 2. Those who have heard the Dao decrease day after day. 3. They decrease and decrease, till they get to the point where they do nothing. 4. They do nothing and yet there's nothing left undone. 5. When someone wants to take control of the world, he must always be unconcerned with affairs. 6. For in a case where he's concerned with affairs, 7. He'll be unworthy, as well, of taking control of the world.
Addiss & Lombardo
For learning, daily increase. For the way, daily decrease. Decrease and again decrease, until reaching non-action. Through non-action, nothing is left undone. Taking the world is always through non-action. As for acting, one is not enough to take the world.
Arthur Waley
Learning consists in adding to one's stock day by day; The practice of Tao consists in "subtracting day by day, Subtracting and yet again subtracting Till one has reached inactivity. But by this very inactivity Everything can be activated." Those who of old won the adherence of all who live under heaven All did so not interfering. Had they interfered, They would never have won this adherence.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
In pursuit of knowledge, every day something is added. In the practice of the Tao, every day something is dropped. Less and less do you need to force things, until finally you arrive at non-action. When nothing is done, nothing is left undone. True mastery can be gained by letting things go their own way. It can't be gained by interfering.