Chapter 49

The Sage Has No Fixed Mind

圣(shèng)人(rén)无(wú)常(cháng)心(xīn)，以(yǐ)百(bǎi)姓(xìng)心(xīn)为(wéi)心(xīn)。

善(shàn)者(zhě)吾(wú)善(shàn)之(zhī)；

不(bú)善(shàn)者(zhě)吾(wú)亦(yì)善(shàn)之(zhī)；

德(dé)善(shàn)。

信(xìn)者(zhě)吾(wú)信(xìn)之(zhī)；

不(bú)信(xìn)者(zhě)吾(wú)亦(yì)信(xìn)之(zhī)；

德(dé)信(xìn)。

圣(shèng)人(rén)在(zài)天(tiān)下(xià)，歙(xī)歙(xī)焉(yān)为(wéi)天(tiān)下(xià)浑(hún)其(qí)心(xīn)。

百(bǎi)姓(xìng)皆(jiē)注(zhù)其(qí)耳(ěr)目(mù)，圣(shèng)人(rén)皆(jiē)孩(hái)之(zhī)。

James Legge · 1891 · Public domain

1. The sage has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind.

2. To those who are good (to me), I am good; and to those who are not good (to me), I am also good;--and thus (all) get to be good. To those who are sincere (with me), I am sincere; and to those who are not sincere (with me), I am also sincere;--and thus (all) get to be sincere.

3. The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision, and keeps his mind in a state of indifference to all. The people all keep their eyes and ears directed to him, and he deals with them all as his children.

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