上 德 不 德 是 以 有 德 下 德 不 失 德 是 以 無 德 上 德 無 為 而 無 以 為 • 下 德 為 之 而 有 以 為 上 仁 為 之 而 無 以 為 • 上 義 為 之 而 有 以 為 • 上 禮 為 之 而 莫 之 以 應 • 則 攘 臂 而 (仍) 之 (•)故 失 道 而 後 德 失 德 而 後 仁 失 仁 而 後 義 • 失 義 而 後 禮 (•)夫 禮 者 忠 信 之 薄 • 而 亂 之 首 • 前 識 者 道 之 華 • 而 愚 之 始 • 是 以 大 丈 夫 處 其 厚 不 居 其 薄 處 其 實 不 居 其 華 (•)故 去 彼 取 此 • A man of highest De does not use his De, thus he possesses De. A man of inferior De does not lose his De, thus he is without De. A man of highest De uses non-action, and acts without motive. A man of inferior De coerces others, and has a motive to act. A man of highest kindness coerces others, and acts without motive. A man of highest morality coerces others, and has a motive to act. A man of highest propriety coerces others, and if there is no one who responds, Then he rolls up his sleeves and keeps doing it. Therefore : lose Dao, and later comes De. Lose De, and later comes kindness. Lose kindness, and later comes morality. Lose morality, and later comes propriety. Now : propriety is that which is merely the appearance of loyalty and honesty, And the beginning of confusion. He who is ahead in knowledge has the flower of Dao, But the beginning of stupidity and foolishness. Thus the greatest elders : Live by Dao’s substance, and do not dwell on Dao’s appearance. Live on Dao’s fruit, and do not dwell on Dao’s flower. Therefore they leave that and choose this. ♦A man of highest De does not [use his] De, thus2 he possesses De. ♦A man of inferior De does not loseA his De, thus2 he is without De. ♦A man of highest De uses non-action, and acts without motive. [because,in order to] A man of inferior De coercesB others, and has a motive to act. [acts] [them] [because,in order to] ♦A man of highest kindness* coerces others, and acts without motive. [acts] [them] [because,in order to] ♦A man of highest morality* coerces others, and has a motive to act. [righteousness] [acts] [them] [because,in order to] ♦A man of highest propriety* coerces others, and if there is no one who [thus] responds, [acts] [them] [they] Then he rolls up his sleeves2 and keeps doing it.C Therefore : lose Dao, and later comes De. Lose De, and later comes kindness*. Lose kindness*, and later comes morality*. [righteousness] Lose morality*, and later comes propriety*. [righteousness]