Chapter 22

曲则全

Chapter Translation

曲qū则zé全quán，

枉wǎng则zé直zhí，

洼wā则zé盈yíng，

敝bì则zé新xīn，

少shǎo则zé多duō，

多duō则zé惑huò。

是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén抱bào一yī为wéi天tiān下xià式shì。

不bù自zì见jiàn，

故gù明míng；

不bù自zì是shì，

故gù彰zhāng；

不bù自zì伐fá，

故gù有yǒu功gōng；

不bù自zì矜jīn，

故gù长zhǎng。

夫fū唯wéi不bù争zhēng，

故gù天tiān下xià莫mò能néng与yǔ之zhī争zhēng。

古gǔ之zhī所suǒ谓wèi曲qū则zé全quán者zhě，

岂qǐ虚xū言yán哉zāi！

诚chéng全quán而ér归guī之zhī。

“A fragment, thus whole”: bent, thus straight; hollow, thus full; worn, thus new. Few, thus gaining; many, thus confused – therefore the sage embraces One and is a standard for the world. Not revealing himself, thus bright; not asserting himself, thus shining; not praising himself, thus meritorious; not boasting of himself, thus enduring.

He does not contend, thus none can content with him.

The old saying, “A fragment, thus whole,” how could it be empty words? Truly, it will return whole in the end.

A modern classroom translation, with labeled subsections for study.