一孔录The video for this chapter is still in production. For now this page gives the original text, the facsimile page, a working translation and the commentary; the full reading follows when the video is out.
上士聞道，勤而行之；中士聞道，若存若亡；下士聞道，大笑之。不笑不足以為道。故建言有之：明道若昧，進道若退，夷道若纇，上德若谷，大白若辱，廣德若不足，建德若偷，質真若渝，大方無隅，大器晚成，大音希聲，大象無形。道隱無名。夫唯道，善貸且成。When the best scholars hear of the Way, they practice it diligently. When middling scholars hear of the Way, they half keep it and half lose it. When the lowest scholars hear of the Way, they laugh out loud. If they did not laugh, it would not be the Way. So the established sayings have it: the bright Way seems dim; the Way forward seems to go back; the level Way seems rough; the highest virtue seems like a valley; the purest white seems soiled; ample virtue seems insufficient; firm virtue seems furtive; true substance seems to change; the great square has no corners; the great vessel is finished late; the great sound is faint; the great image has no shape. The Way is hidden and nameless. Only the Way is good at lending and at bringing to completion.
白Plain Chinese
上等的人听了道，努力去实行；中等的人听了道，将信将疑；下等的人听了道，哈哈大笑。不被他们笑，就不足以成为道。所以古来有这样的话：明亮的道好像昏暗，前进的道好像后退，平坦的道好像崎岖，崇高的德好像山谷，最洁白的好像有污垢，广大的德好像不足，刚健的德好像懈怠，质朴纯真好像浑浊，最大的方正没有棱角，最大的器物最后完成，最大的声音听来无声，最大的形象没有形状。道隐没而没有名字。只有道，善于施与，并且成就万物。
Draft plain-Chinese rendering following Wang Bi; it will be checked when the chapter is taught.
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