第二十章
异俗
绝学无忧，唯之与阿，相去几何？
善之与恶，相去若何？
人之所畏，不可不畏。
荒兮其未央哉！
众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。
我独怕兮其未兆；
如婴儿之未孩；
儽儽兮若无所归。
众人皆有馀，而我独若遗。
我愚人之心也哉！
沌沌兮，俗人昭昭，我独若昏。
俗人察察，我独闷闷。
澹兮其若海，飂兮若无止，众人皆有以，而我独顽似鄙。
我独异于人，而贵食母。
王弼注
英译 · James Legge
Being different from ordinary men
When we renounce learning we have no troubles.
The (ready) 'yes,' and (flattering) 'yea;'
Small is the difference they display.
But mark their issues, good and ill;
What space the gulf between shall fill?
What all men fear is indeed to be feared; but how wide and without end is the range of questions (asking to be discussed)! The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence. I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of men all have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost everything. My mind is that of a stupid man; I am in a state of chaos. Ordinary men look bright and intelligent, while I alone seem to be benighted. They look full of discrimination, while I alone am dull and confused. I seem to be carried about as on the sea, drifting as if I had nowhere to rest. All men have their spheres of action, while I alone seem dull and incapable, like a rude borderer. (Thus) I alone am different from other men, but I value the nursing-mother (the Dao).
绝学无忧，唯之与阿，相去几何？善之与恶，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。
下篇，为学者日益，为道者日损。然则学求益所能，而进其智者也，若将无欲而足，何求于益。不知而中，何求于进。夫燕雀有匹，鸠鸽有仇，寒乡之民，必知旃裘，自然已足，益之则忧。故续凫之足，何异截鹤之颈，畏誉而进，何异畏刑。唯阿美恶，相去若何？故人之所畏，吾亦异焉，未敢恃之以为用也。
荒兮其未央哉！
叹与俗相返之远也。
众人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登台。
众人迷于美进，惑于荣利，欲进心竞，故熙熙如享太牢，如春登台也。
我独怕兮其未兆，如婴儿之未孩；
言我廓然，无形之可名，无兆之可举，如婴儿之未能孩也。
儽儽兮，若无所归。
若无所宅。
众人皆有馀，而我独若遗。
众人无不有怀有志，盈溢胸心，故曰，皆有馀也。我独廓然，无为无欲，若遗失之也。
我愚人之心也哉！
绝愚之人，心无所别析，意无所美恶，犹然其情不可睹，我颓然若此也。
沌沌兮，
无所别析，不可为名。
俗人昭昭，
耀其光也。
我独若昏。俗人察察，
分别别析也。
我独闷闷。澹兮其若海，
情不可睹。
飂兮若无止。
无所系絷。
众人皆有以，
以，用也。皆欲有所施用也。
而我独顽似鄙。
无所欲为，闷闷昏昏，若无所识，故曰，顽且鄙也。
我独异于人，而贵食母。
食母，生之本也。人者皆弃生民之本，贵末饰之华，故曰，我独欲异于人。