【原文】
知人者智,自知者明。
勝人者有力,自勝者強。
知足者富。
強行者有志。
不失其所者久。
死而不亡者壽。
【現(xiàn)代漢語】
能夠正確的認識別人是智慧,能正確的認識自己是高明。
能戰(zhàn)勝別人是有力,能戰(zhàn)勝自己是剛強。
知道滿足就是富有。
能夠努力不懈才算是真正的有志向。
不離失根基就能夠長久。
身死而不被遺忘是真正的長壽。
【英譯】
He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is advisable.
He who overcomes others is strong; he who overcomes himself is doughty.
He who is satisfied with his lot is rich.
He who goes on acting with energy has a firm will.
He who does lose his duty and groundwork continues long.
He who dies yet his spirit remains has longevity.
【備注】
老子善用排比,形式美,氣勢美,道理更美。
如果現(xiàn)代人以本章的內(nèi)容對照自己,嚴格地說,大多數(shù)人一條也不能真正做到,能夠領(lǐng)悟這個“道”確實不容易啊。這也就是“強行者有志”所強調(diào)的內(nèi)容。老子所提到的“強行”(努力不懈)和我們現(xiàn)在的理解不同,不是指對事業(yè)、金錢、物質(zhì)等等的追求,而是針對個人內(nèi)心之“樸”的追求和磨練。也就是對“道”修證。