41	道德經:	上士聞道，勤而行之；中士聞道，若存若亡；下士聞道，大笑之。 不笑不足以為道。故建言有之：明道若昧；進道若退；夷道若纇；上德若谷；太白若辱；廣德若不足；建德若偷；質真若渝；大方無隅；大器晚成；大音希聲；大象無形；道隱無名。夫唯道，善貸且成。
	Dao De Jing:	(Sameness and difference) Scholars of the highest class, when they hear about the Dao, earnestly carry it into practice. Scholars of the middle class, when they have heard about it, seem now to keep it and now to lose it. Scholars of the lowest class, when they have heard about it, laugh greatly at it. If it were not (thus) laughed at, it would not be fit to be the Dao. Therefore the sentence-makers have thus expressed themselves: 'The Dao, when brightest seen, seems light to lack; Who progress in it makes, seems drawing back; Its even way is like a rugged track. Its highest virtue from the vale doth rise; Its greatest beauty seems to offend the eyes; And he has most whose lot the least supplies. Its firmest virtue seems but poor and low; Its solid truth seems to change to undergo; Its largest square doth yet no corner show A vessel great, it is the slowest made; Loud is its sound, but never word it said; A semblance great, the shadow of a shade.' The Dao is hidden and has no name, but it is the Dao which is skilful at imparting (to all things what they need) and making them complete.

Dao De Jing Chapter 41 - Seddon

Dec 23 at 2:18 AM

41

When the superior man hears of the Tao, he practises it diligently.

When the average man hears about the Tao, he follows it only intermittently.

When the foolish man hears of the Tao, he bursts out laughing.

But for this laughter, Tao would not be Tao.

Hence, the ancients have said:

The lightest path seems to be dark;

Going forward seems like going back;

The easy way seems to be hard;

The highest Virtue seems empty;

That which is pure seems sullied;

Ample Virtue appears inadequate;

Strength to be had from Virtue seems lacking;

Virtue itself appears unreal.

The greatest space has no corners;

The greatest talent develops slowly;

The loudest sound cannot be heard;

The greatest form has no shape.

Tao is hidden and without a name;

Yet it is Tao which nourishes all things and brings everything to completion.

上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。

不笑不足以为道。故建言有之：明道若昧，进道若退，夷道若纇。

上德若谷；大白若辱；广德若不足；建德若偷；质真若渝。

大方无隅；大器晚成；大音希声；大象无形；道隐无名。

夫唯道，善贷且成。