Chapter 45

The Greatest Perfection

大(dà)成(chéng)若(ruò)缺(quē)，其(qí)用(yòng)不(bú)弊(bì)；

大(dà)盈(yíng)若(ruò)冲(chōng)，其(qí)用(yòng)不(bù)穷(qióng)。

大(dà)直(zhí)若(ruò)屈(qū)，大(dà)巧(qiǎo)若(ruò)拙(zhuō)，大(dà)辩(biàn)若(ruò)讷(nè)。

躁(zào)胜(shèng)寒(hán)，静(jìng)胜(shèng)热(rè)。

清(qīng)静(jìng)为(wéi)天(tiān)下(xià)正(zhèng)。

James Legge · 1891 · Public domain

Who thinks his great achievements poor

Shall find his vigour long endure.

Of greatest fulness, deemed a void,

Exhaustion ne'er shall stem the tide.

Do thou what's straight still crooked deem;

Thy greatest art still stupid seem,

And eloquence a stammering scream.

2. Constant action overcomes cold; being still overcomes heat. Purity and stillness give the correct law to all under heaven.

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