道德经
英译 樊功生
第十六章
致虚极，守静笃；万物并作，吾以观复。夫物芸芸，各复归其根。归根曰静，静曰复命。复命曰常，知常曰明。不知常，妄作凶。知常容，容乃公，公乃全，全乃天，天乃道，道乃久，没身不殆。
Chapter 16
Maintain the mind in ultimate void, keep the life in constant calmness. Everything grows while I observe its cycles. All the prosperities eventually return to their roots. Root returning is to return to calmness, calmness is nature, and nature is constant. Knowing all these is wise, going against nature would result in calamities. Understanding natural laws, one becomes all embracing, and then impartial, and then thorough and comprehensive. In this way, one can follow the laws of Heaven, and would be perpetually free of dangers.
第十七章
太上，不知有之；其次，亲而誉之；其次，畏之；其次，侮之。信不足焉，有不信焉。悠兮，其贵言。功成事遂，百姓皆谓“我自然”。
Chapter 17
The best ruler is unknown to his citizens. The next best is the one approached and praised by his citizens, the next is the one feared by his citizens, and the worst is the one despised by his citizens. He, who is untrustworthy, won't be trusted. The best ruler is relatively idle, with few orders. Any mission accomplished, people would say, "as it should be" .
第十八章
大道废，有仁义；智慧出，有大伪；六亲不和，有孝慈；国家昏乱，有忠臣。
Chapter 18
Kindness surfaces when order collapses, fraud becomes rampant when reasoning appears, filial piety is praised when family is in dispute, and loyal men rise up when the state is in disarray.
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