17𝌖淳风

道德經 Dao De Jing [Tao Te Ching]

Chapter 17: The Unadulterated Influence

	繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp	Legge's Translation	Susuki's Translation	Goddard's Translation
	淳风	The Unadulterated Influence	Simplicity In Habits	Simplicity of Habit
1	太上，下不知有之；其次，亲而誉之；	In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers). In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.	Of great rulers the subjects do not notice the existence. To lesser ones people are attached; they praise them. Still lesser ones people fear, and the meanest ones people despise.	When great men rule, subjects know little of their existence. Rulers who are less great win the affection and praise of their subjects. A common ruler is feared by his subjects, and an unworthy ruler is despised.
2	其次，畏之；其次，侮之。信不足焉，	Thus it was that when faith (in the Dao) was deficient (in the rulers) a want of faith in them ensued (in the people).	For it is said: "If your faith be insufficient, verily, you will receive no faith."	When a ruler lacks faith, you may seek in vain for it among his subjects.
3	有不信焉。悠兮其贵言。功成事遂，百姓皆谓：「我自然」。	How irresolute did those (earliest rulers) appear, showing (by their reticence) the importance which they set upon their words! Their work was done and their undertakings were successful, while the people all said, "We are as we are, of ourselves!"	How reluctantly they [the great rulers] considered their words! Merit they accomplished; deeds they performed; and the hundred families thought: "We are independent."	How carefully a wise ruler chooses his words. He performs deeds, and accumulates merit! Under such a ruler the people think they are ruling themselves.

繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp

Legge's Translation

Susuki's Translation

Goddard's Translation

淳风

The Unadulterated Influence

Simplicity In Habits

Simplicity of Habit

太上，下不知有之；其次，亲而誉之；

In the highest antiquity, (the people) did not know that there were (their rulers). In the next age they loved them and praised them. In the next they feared them; in the next they despised them.

Of great rulers the subjects do not notice the existence. To lesser ones people are attached; they praise them. Still lesser ones people fear, and the meanest ones people despise.

When great men rule, subjects know little of their existence. Rulers who are less great win the affection and praise of their subjects. A common ruler is feared by his subjects, and an unworthy ruler is despised.

其次，畏之；其次，侮之。信不足焉，

Thus it was that when faith (in the Dao) was deficient (in the rulers) a want of faith in them ensued (in the people).

For it is said: "If your faith be insufficient, verily, you will receive no faith."

When a ruler lacks faith, you may seek in vain for it among his subjects.

有不信焉。悠兮其贵言。功成事遂，百姓皆谓：「我自然」。

How irresolute did those (earliest rulers) appear, showing (by their reticence) the importance which they set upon their words! Their work was done and their undertakings were successful, while the people all said, "We are as we are, of ourselves!"

How reluctantly they [the great rulers] considered their words! Merit they accomplished; deeds they performed; and the hundred families thought: "We are independent."

How carefully a wise ruler chooses his words. He performs deeds, and accumulates merit! Under such a ruler the people think they are ruling themselves.