Laozi · Complete work
Chapter 18
Chapter 18 of 81. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Classical Chinese
大道廢，有仁義；智慧出，有大偽；六親不和，有孝慈；國家昏亂，有忠臣。
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the original source for fidelity, modern clarity, beauty, symbolism, and structure.
When the great Way is cast aside, benevolence and righteousness arise;When wisdom and discernment emerge, great falsity arises;When the six kin are not in harmony, filial devotion and parental care arise;When state and house are dark with disorder, loyal ministers arise.
OpenTao
Complete CC BY 4.0 translation made directly from the received Chinese text; source line structure preserved.
When the great Way fell into disuse, humaneness and righteousness arose;When cleverness and shrewdness came to the fore, great hypocrisy arose;When the six family bonds lost their harmony, filial devotion and parental tenderness arose;When state and clan sank into dark confusion, loyal ministers appeared.
James Legge (1891)
Complete public-domain translation made directly from the original source text.
1. When the Great Tao (Way or Method) ceased to be observed, benevolence and righteousness came into vogue. (Then) appeared wisdom and shrewdness, and there ensued great hypocrisy.
2. When harmony no longer prevailed throughout the six kinships, filial sons found their manifestation; when the states and clans fell into disorder, loyal ministers appeared.