第三十九章

昔之得一者，天得一以清，地得一以宁，神得一以灵，谷得一以盈，万物得一以生，侯王得一以为天下贞。其致之。天无以清将恐裂，地无以宁将恐发，神无以灵将恐歇，谷无以盈将恐竭，万物无以生将恐灭，侯王无以贵高将恐蹶。故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。是以侯王自谓孤寡不穀。此非以贱为本邪？非乎？故致数舆无舆。不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。

From of old, those that obtained the One: heaven obtained the One and became clear; earth obtained the One and became stable; spirits obtained the One and became divine; valleys obtained the One and became full; all things obtained the One and came to life; kings and lords obtained the One and became rulers of the world. What made them so. Without clarity, heaven would crack; without stability, earth would quake; without divinity, spirits would fade; without fullness, valleys would dry up; without life, all things would perish; without nobility, kings would stumble. Therefore, the noble takes the humble as its root; the high takes the low as its foundation. Thus kings and lords call themselves 'orphaned,' 'desolate,' and 'unworthy.' Is this not taking the humble as root? Is it not? Therefore, the highest fame is no fame. Do not wish to glitter like jade, but be plain like a stone.

白话译文

从前得到'一'（道）的：天得到一而清明，地得到一而安宁，神得到一而灵验，山谷得到一而充盈，万物得到一而生长，侯王得到一而成为天下的准则。推而言之，天不能清明恐怕要崩裂，地不能安宁恐怕要塌陷，神不能灵验恐怕要消失，山谷不能充盈恐怕要枯竭，万物不能生长恐怕要灭绝，侯王不能高贵恐怕要倾覆。所以高贵以卑贱为根本，高上以低下为基础。因此侯王自称为孤、寡、不穀。这不正是以卑贱为根本吗？所以最高的荣誉就是没有荣誉。不要追求像玉那样华美，而要像石头那样质朴。

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