第二十一章
中文原文
孔德之容，惟道是从。
道之为物，惟恍惟惚。
惚兮恍兮，其中有象；恍兮惚兮，其中有物。
窈兮冥兮，其中有精；其精甚真，其中有信。
自古及今，其名不去，以阅众甫。
吾何以知众甫之状哉？以此。
English Translation
The greatest virtue follows only the Dao.
The Dao, as a thing, is vague and elusive.
Elusive and vague—within it there is form.
Vague and elusive—within it there is substance.
Deep and dark—within it there is essence.
That essence is supremely real, within it lies truth.
From ancient times until now, its name has never ceased,
Through it we see the origin of all things.
How do I know the origin of all things?
By this Dao.
问答讲解
问：这里为什么反复用“恍惚”“窈冥”？
答：这是老子强调道的不可言说性。虽然难以描述，但其中蕴含真实与精微的本质，正是万物之根源。
Q: Why are “vague” and “elusive” repeated here?
A: To stress the ineffable nature of Dao. Though indescribable, it contains true essence—the origin of all things.
第二十二章
中文原文
曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则得，多则惑。
是以圣人抱一为天下式。
不自见故明，不自是故彰，不自伐故有功，不自矜故长。
夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争。
古之所谓“曲则全”者，岂虚言哉！诚全而归之。
English Translation
To be bent is to be preserved whole;
To be crooked is to be straightened;
To be low is to be filled;
To be worn out is to be renewed;
To have little is to gain;
To have much is to be confused.
Therefore, the sage embraces the One as a model for the world.
Because he does not display himself, he shines;
Because he does not justify himself, he is distinguished;
Because he does not boast, he has merit;
Because he does not pride himself, he endures.
It is only by not contending
That no one under Heaven can contend with him.
The saying of the ancients, “To be bent is to be whole”—
Was it an empty phrase? Truly, one is whole in the end.
问答讲解
问：“曲则全”是什么意思？
答：意思是柔弱、谦卑反而能保存自身。圣人效法这一原则，不争反胜。
Q: What does “to be bent is to be preserved whole” mean?
A: It means humility and yielding preserve life. The sage follows this principle: by not contending, he prevails.
第二十三章
中文原文
希言自然。
故飘风不终朝，骤雨不终日。孰为此者？天地。
天地尚不能久，而况于人乎？
故从事于道者，同于道；德者，同于德；失者，同于失。
同于道者，道亦乐得之；同于德者，德亦乐得之；同于失者，失亦乐得之。
信不足焉，有不信焉。
English Translation
Sparingly spoken words are natural.
Thus a whirlwind does not last all morning,
A sudden rain does not last all day.
Who makes them so? Heaven and Earth.
If even Heaven and Earth cannot last long,
How much less can humans?
Therefore, one who follows Dao is united with Dao.
One who follows virtue is united with virtue.
One who follows loss is united with loss.
Those united with Dao—Dao accepts them with joy.
Those united with virtue—virtue accepts them with joy.
Those united with loss—loss also accepts them with joy.
If trust is lacking, there is no trust in return.
问答讲解
问：“希言自然”是什么意思？
答：言语要简约自然，不要夸饰。就像风雨不能长久，虚妄的言辞也不会持久。
Q: What does “few words are natural” mean?
A: Words should be simple and natural. Just as storms cannot last long, exaggerated speech is unsustainable.
第二十四章
中文原文
企者不立；跨者不行；自见者不明；自是者不彰；自伐者无功；自矜者不长。
其在道也，曰余食赘行。物或恶之，故有道者不处。
English Translation
Those who tiptoe cannot stand firm;
Those who stride cannot walk far.
Those who show themselves are not enlightened;
Those who justify themselves are not distinguished;
Those who boast have no merit;
Those who are proud do not endure.
In the way of Dao, these are called excess food and useless actions.
All things dislike them;
Thus one who follows Dao avoids them.
问答讲解
问：这里批评的是什么样的人？
答：好自我炫耀、急功近利的人。老子认为这些都是“余食赘行”，不自然、不长久。
Q: What kind of people are criticized here?
A: Those who show off, boast, or act excessively. Laozi calls such behavior “excess food and useless actions”—unnatural and unsustainable.
第二十五章
中文原文
有物混成，先天地生。
寂兮寥兮，独立而不改，周行而不殆，可以为天地母。
吾不知其名，字之曰道，强为之名曰大。
大曰逝，逝曰远，远曰反。
故道大，天大，地大，人亦大。域中有四大，而人居其一焉。
人法地，地法天，天法道，道法自然。
English Translation
There is something formed in chaos,
Born before Heaven and Earth.
Silent and vast,
Standing alone, unchanging,
Circulating endlessly, never in danger—
It may be called the mother of Heaven and Earth.
I do not know its name;
I call it Dao, and if forced to name it, I call it Great.
Great means to go forth;
To go forth means to go far;
To go far means to return.
Thus Dao is great; Heaven is great; Earth is great; Man is also great.
Within the universe are four greatnesses, and Man is one of them.
Man follows Earth;
Earth follows Heaven;
Heaven follows Dao;
Dao follows what is natural.
问答讲解
问：这里为什么称“道”为“大”？
答：因为道超越天地，生养天地万物，运行无穷，循环往复。它是自然的最高法则。
Q: Why is Dao called “Great” here?
A: Because Dao transcends and gives birth to Heaven and Earth, endless in operation and cyclic in nature. It is the ultimate principle of natural law.
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