Chapter 17
太上
太上，
下不知有之；
其次，
亲而誉之；
其次，
畏之；
其次，
侮之。
The best: those below are aware that he is there. Next best: they love and praise him. Next best, they fear him. Next best: they insult him. Insufficient faith above, unfaithfulness below. Far off, he speaks but rarely. When the work is accomplished and the task is complete, the people all say, “We did it of ourselves.”
A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.
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