第54章 · 原文
现代白话译文
善于建树的人不可拔除，善于抱持的人不会脱落，子孙后代会以此来祭祀不绝。用道修身，他的德就真实；用道治家，他的德就有余；用道治乡，他的德就久长；用道治国，他的德就丰盛；用道治天下，他的德就普及。所以用自身的修身之道来观察别身，以自家的治家之道来观察别家，以自乡的治乡之道来观察别乡，以自国的治国之道来观察别国，以平天下的之道来观察天下。我凭什么知道天下的情况呢？就是用这个方法。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
What is firmly rooted cannot be pulled out; What is tightly held in the arms will not slip loose; Through this the offering of sacrifice by descendants will never come to an end. Cultivate it in your person And its virtue will be genuine; Cultivate it in the family And its virtue will be more than sufficient; Cultivate it in the hamlet And its virtue will endure; Cultivate it in the state And its virtue will abound; Cultivate it in the empire And its virtue will be pervasive. Hence look at the person through the person; Look at the family through the family; Look at the hamlet through the hamlet; Look at the state through the state; Look at the empire through the empire. How do I know that the empire is like that? By means of this.
Robert Henricks
1. What is firmly set up can't be pulled down; 2. What is firmly embraced cannot slip free. 3. And your sons and grandsons, as a result, will sacrifice without end. 4. When you cultivate it in your person, your virtue will then be genuine; 5. When you cultivate it in your family, your virtue will then be overflow; 6. When you cultivate it in your village, your virtue will then be long lasting; 7. When you cultivate it in your state, your virtue will then be abundant; 8. And when you cultivate it throughout the world, your virtue will then be widespread. 9. Use the individual to examine the individual; 10. Use the family to examine the family; [10a Use the village to examine the village;] 11. Use the state to examine the state; 12. And use the world to examine the world; 13. How do I know that the world is so? 14. By this.
Addiss & Lombardo
What is well planted cannot be uprooted. What is well held cannot slip away. The descendants will sacrifice to it endlessly. Cultivate in oneself, and virtue is real. Cultivate in the family, and virtue is abundant. Cultivate in the village, and virtue is lasting. Cultivate in the state, and virtue is prosperous. Cultivate in the world, and virtue is universal. Therefore observe oneself through others, observe the family through the family, observe the village through the village, observe the state through the state, observe the world through the world. How do I know the world is like this? Through this.
Arthur Waley
What Tao plants cannot be plucked, What Tao clasps, cannot slip. By its virtue alone can one generation after another carry on the ancestrial sacrifice. Apply it to yourself and by its power you will be freed from dross. Apply it to your household and your household shall thereby have abundance. Apply it to the village, and the village will be made secure. Apply it to the kingdom, and the kingdom shall thereby be made to flourish. Apply it to an empire, and the empire shall thereby be extended. Therefore just as through oneself one may contemplate Oneself, So through the household one may contemplate the Household, And through the village, one may contemplate the Village, And through the kingdom, one may contemplate the Kingdom, And through the empire, one may contemplate the Empire. How do I know that the empire is so? By this.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
Whoever is planted in the Tao will not be rooted up. Whoever embraces the Tao will not slip away. Her name will be held in honor from generation to generation. Let the Tao be present in your life and you will become genuine. Let it be present in your family and your family will flourish. Let it be present in your country and your country will be an example to all countries in the world. Let it be present in the universe and the universe will sing. How do I know this is true? By looking inside myself.