The upper virtues do not (chase) virtues, and thus have virtues; the l

論德 · Lùn Dé

Classical Chinese Text

上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以无德。上德无为而无以为；下德无为而有以为。上仁为之而无以为；上义为之而有以为。上礼为之而莫之应，则攘臂而扔之。
故失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。夫礼者，忠信之薄，而乱之首。前识者，道之华，而愚之始。是以大丈夫处其厚，不居其薄；处其实，不居其华。故去彼取此。

Translation & Meaning

The upper virtues do not (chase) virtues, and thus have virtues; the lower virtues do (chase) virtues, and thus have no virtues. The upper virtues make (one) act (good) with the effortless action (Wu Wei) by not chasing it; the lower virtues make (one) act (good) with the effortless action (Wu Wei) by chasing it. The upper benevolences act (to make one act good) by not chasing it; the upper rightousnesses act (to make one act good) by chasing it. The upper proprieties act (to make one act good) and (if) get no (conformity in) return, then extend the arms and drag them.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 上 (shàng): elevate / utmost / high
  • 德 (dé): Intrinsic Virtue / inner power
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 失 (shī): classical character (shī)
  • 无 (wú): formless void / non-being / without
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 仁 (rén): benevolence / kindness
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 义 (yì): classical character (yì)
  • 礼 (lǐ): classical character (lǐ)
  • 莫 (mò): classical character (mò)
  • 应 (yìng): classical character (yìng)
  • 则 (zé): classical character (zé)
  • 攘 (rǎng): classical character (rǎng)
  • 臂 (bì): classical character (bì)
  • 扔 (rēng): classical character (rēng)
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 后 (hòu): after / behind
  • 夫 (fū): for / indeed / now
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 忠 (zhōng): classical character (zhōng)
  • 信 (xìn): truth / fidelity / honesty
  • 薄 (báo): classical character (báo)
  • 乱 (luàn): chaos / disorder / turmoil
  • 首 (shǒu): classical character (shǒu)
  • 前 (qián): classical character (qián)
  • 识 (shí): classical character (shí)
  • 华 (huá): classical character (huá)
  • 愚 (yú): classical character (yú)
  • 始 (shǐ): dawn / primordial origin
  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 丈 (zhàng): classical character (zhàng)
  • 处 (chù): stays / dwells / position
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 厚 (hòu): classical character (hòu)
  • 居 (jū): reside in / carry oneself
  • 实 (shí): fill / nourish / substance
  • 去 (qù): depart / lose / abandon
  • 彼 (bǐ): classical character (bǐ)
  • 取 (qǔ): classical character (qǔ)
  • 此 (cǐ): classical character (cǐ)