作品描述

民不畏威，则大威至。
无狎其所居，无厌其所生。夫唯不厌，是以不厌。
是以圣人自知不自见，自爱不自贵。
故去彼取此。

When people have no fear of force,

Then (as is the common practice) great force descends

upon them.

Despise not their dwellings,

Dislike not their progeny.

Because you do not dislike them,

You will not be disliked yourself.

Therefore the Sage knows himself, but does not show himself,

Loves himself, but does not exalt himself.

Therefore he rejects the one (force) and

accepts the other (gentility).