Religion
Chapter 56
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it); he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.
He (who knows it) will keep his mouth shut and close the portals (of his nostrils). He will blunt his sharp points and unravel the complications of things; he will attemper his brightness, and bring himself into agreement with the obscurity (of others). This is called 'the Mysterious Agreement.'
(Such an one) cannot be treated familiarly or distantly; he is beyond all consideration of profit or injury; of nobility or meanness:--he is the noblest man under heaven.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Codex Note
Prose translation of a largely rhymed original, with occasional rhymed renderings by Legge; words in parentheses are his supplied additions.
Cite this poem
MLA
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 56.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/55/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 56.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/55/.
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