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| Scope: Dao De Jing Request type: Paragraph |
| Condition 1: References "下士闻道，大笑之" Matched:1. |
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《道德经 - Dao De Jing》 | [Warring States (475 BC - 221 BC)] English translation: James Legge [?] | Books referencing 《道德经》 Library Resources Source Related resources |
| 41 | 道德经: | 上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。不笑不足以为道。故建言有之：明道若昧；进道若退；夷道若纇；上德若谷；太白若辱；广德若不足；建德若偷；质真若渝；大方无隅；大器晚成；大音希声；大象无形；道隐无名。夫唯道，善贷且成。 |
| Dao De Jing: |
(Sameness and difference) Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Dao, earnestly carry it into practice. Scholars of the middle class, when they have heard about it, seem now to keep it and now to lose it. Scholars of the lowest class, when they have heard about it, laugh greatly at it. If it were not (thus) laughed at, it would not be fit to be the Dao. Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves: 'The Dao, when brightest seen, seems light to lack; Who progress in it makes, seems drawing back; Its even way is like a rugged track. Its highest virtue from the vale doth rise; Its greatest beauty seems to offend the eyes; And he has most whose lot the least supplies. Its firmest virtue seems but poor and low; Its solid truth seems change to undergo; Its largest square doth yet no corner show A vessel great, it is the slowest made; Loud is its sound, but never word it said; A semblance great, the shadow of a shade.' The Dao is hidden, and has no name; but it is the Dao which is skilful at imparting (to all things what they need) and making them complete. |
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