Chapter 56
第五十六章
He who knows (the Tao) does not (care to) speak (about it);
知者不言,
he who is (ever ready to) speak about it does not know it.
言者不知。
He (who knows it) will keep his mouth shut and close the portals (of his nostrils).
塞其兑,闭其门;
He will blunt his sharp points and unravel the complications of things;
挫其锐,解其纷;
he will attemper his brightness, and bring himself into agreement with the obscurity (of others).
和其光,同其尘,
This is called 'the Mysterious Agreement.'
是谓玄同。
(Such an one) cannot be treated familiarly or distantly;
故不可得而亲,不可得而疏;
he is beyond all consideration of profit or injury; of nobility or meanness:
不可得而利,不可得而害;不可得而贵,不可得而贱;
he is the noblest man under heaven.
故为天下贵。