Tao Te Ching Chapter 22
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
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。
The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight;the empty, full; the worn out, new. He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires)are many goes astray.
Therefore the sage holds in his embrace the one thing(of humility), and manifests it to all the world. He is free from self-display,and therefore he shines; from self-assertion,and therefore he is distinguished; from self-boasting
and therefore his merit is acknowledged;from self-complacency,and therefore he acquires superiority. It is because he is thus free from striving that therefore no one in the world is able to strive with him.
That saying of the ancients that "the partial becomes complete" was not vainly spoken:--all real completion is comprehended under it.
【译文】委屈反而能够保全，弯曲反而能够伸直，凹下反而能够积满，陈旧反而能够更新，少取反而能够得到,贪多反而能够惑乱。所以有道的人坚守这一原则作为天下事理的范式，不突显自己，却因此而声名显扬;不自以为是，却因此而显著;不自己夸耀,却因此而建立功业;不自高自大，却因此而成为众人的首领。正因为不与人争，以天下没有人能争得过他。古人所说的“曲则全”的话，怎么会是空话呢?它实实在在能够达到。
The yielding will be preserved; the bent will be straightened; the hollow will be filled; the old will be renewed; the few will gain; the greedy will be confused. Therefore, those who follow the Tao hold fast to this principle as the model for all things under heaven. They do not flaunt themselves, yet their virtue shines forth; they do not claim to be right, yet their wisdom is evident; they do not boast, yet their achievements endure; they do not exalt themselves, yet they become leaders among people. Precisely because they do not compete with others, none in the world can contend against them. How can the ancient saying, "To yield is to be preserved," be empty words? It truly achieves what it signifies.
