第56章 · 原文
现代白话译文
真正了解的人不说话，说话的人不了解。堵塞嗜欲的孔窍，关闭嗜欲的门径，磨掉锋芒，消解纷扰，含敛光耀，混同尘世，这就叫作玄妙的同化。所以对他既不能亲近，也不能疏远；既不能使他得利，也不能使他受害；既不能使他尊贵，也不能使他卑贱。所以被天下所尊贵。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
One who knows does not speak; One who speaks does not know. Block the openings; Shut the doors. Blunt the sharpness; Untangle the knots; Soften the glare; Let your wheels move only along old ruts. This is known as mysterious sameness. Hence you cannot get close to it, nor can you keep it at arm's length; You cannot bestow benefit on it, nor can you do it harm; You cannot ennoble it, nor can you debase it. Therefore it is valued by the empire.
Robert Henricks
1. Those who know don't talk about it; those who talk don't know it. 2. He blocks up his holes, 3. Closes his doors, 4. Softens the glare, 5. Settles the dust, 6. Files down the sharp edges, 7. And unties the tangles. 8. This is called Profound Union. 9. Therefore, there is no way to get intimate with him, 10. But there is also no way to shun him. 11. There is no way to benefit him, 12. But there is also no way to harm him. 13. There is no way to ennoble him, 14. But there is also no way to debase him. 15. For this very reason he's the noblest thing in the world.
Addiss & Lombardo
Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know. Block the openings, close the doors, blunt the sharpness, untie the knots, harmonize the light, mix with the dust. This is called mysterious unity. Therefore it cannot be made close, cannot be made distant, cannot benefit, cannot harm, cannot honor, cannot humiliate. Therefore it is the most noble in the world.
Arthur Waley
Those who know do not speak; Those who speak do not know. Black the passages, Shut the doors, Let all sharpness be blunted, All tangles untied, All glare tempered. All dust smoothed. This is called the mysterious leveling. He who has achieved it cannot either be drawn into friendship or repelled, Cannot be benefited, cannot be harmed, Cannot either be raised or humbled, And for that very reason is highest of all creatures under heaven.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
Those who know don't talk. Those who talk don't know. Close your mouth, block off your senses, blunt your sharpness, untie your knots, soften your glare, settle your dust. This is the primal identity. Be like the Tao. It can't be approached or withdrawn from, benefited or harmed, honored or brought into disgrace. It gives itself up continually. That is why it endures.