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道 Tâo
Chapter 24

He who stands on his tiptoes does not stand firm; he who stretches his legs does not walk (easily). (So), he who displays himself does not shine; he who asserts his own views is not distinguished; he who vaunts himself does not find his merit acknowledged; he who is self-conceited has no superiority allowed to him. Such conditions, viewed from the standpoint of the Tâo, are like remnants of food, or a tumour on the body, which all dislike. Hence those who pursue (the course) of the Tâo do not adopt and allow them.

二 十 四 章

企 者 不 久 ,
○ 者 不 行 ,
自 見 不 明 , 自 是 不 彰 , 自 伐 無 功 , 自 矜 不 長 。
其 在 道 , 曰 餘 食 贅 行 ,
物 或 有 惡 之 , 故 有 道 不 處 。

Key Terms

Observations and Comments

Legge Translation Notes

###, 'Painful Graciousness.' The chapter should be so designated. This concludes the subject of the two previous chapters,-pursuing the course, the course of the unemotional Tâo without vain effort or display.

The remnants of food were not used as sacrificial offerings;—see the Lî Kî (vol. xxvii, p. 82). In what I have rendered by 'a tumour attached to the body,' the ### is probably, by a mistake, for ###;—see a quotation by Wû Khäng from Sze-mâ Khien. "Which all dislike' is, literally, 'Things are likely to dislike them,' the 'things' being 'spirits and men,' as Wû explains the term.