Chapter 20

Cut off learning, and be free of care: between yes and yea, how much distance is there?Between good and evil, how great is the difference?What others fear, one cannot but fear.How desolate—and still it has no end!The multitude are radiant and merry, as at a feast of the great sacrifice, as climbing a terrace in spring.I alone am quiet, showing no sign;Like an infant that has not yet learned to smile;Drifting, as though with nowhere to return.The multitude all have more than enough, while I alone seem to have lost everything.Mine is truly the heart of a fool!Dazed and dim—the common people shine brightly; I alone seem dark.The common people see sharply; I alone am dull and obscure.Calm, like the sea; windblown, as though never coming to rest—the multitude all have their uses, while I alone am stubborn and seem uncouth.I alone differ from others, and treasure feeding from the Mother.

Cast off learning, and care falls away. A respectful yes, a dismissive yeah—how far apart are they?What we call good and evil—how far apart are they?What people fear, we cannot help but fear.What a desolate expanse, with no end in sight!The crowd shines with delight, as if feasting at the grand sacrifice, as if climbing a terrace in spring.I alone am quiet, with nothing yet stirring;like a newborn before its first smile;spent and cast down, as if there were no home to return to.Everyone else has more than enough; I alone seem to have lost it all.I have a fool’s heart!Murk upon murk. Ordinary people shine brightly; I alone seem dim.Ordinary people scrutinize every detail; I alone remain withdrawn and mute.Still as the sea, swept onward like a high wind that never rests. Everyone else has a purpose; I alone am stubborn and uncouth, like a rustic from the borderlands.I alone differ from others: I treasure nursing at the mother’s breast.

1.

When we renounce learning we have no troubles.The (ready) 'yes,' and (flattering) 'yea;'--Small is the difference they display.But mark their issues, good and ill;--What space the gulf between shall fill?

What all men fear is indeed to be feared; but how wide and without end is the range of questions (asking to be discussed)!

2. The multitude of men look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence. I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of men all have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost everything. My mind is that of a stupid man; I am in a state of chaos.

Ordinary men look bright and intelligent, while I alone seem to be benighted. They look full of discrimination, while I alone am dull and confused. I seem to be carried about as on the sea, drifting as if I had nowhere to rest. All men have their spheres of action, while I alone seem dull and incapable, like a rude borderer. (Thus) I alone am different from other men, but I value the nursing-mother (the Tao).