Chapter 13

寵辱若驚，貴大患若身。
何謂寵辱若驚？
寵為下，得之若驚，失之若驚，是謂寵辱若驚。
何謂貴大患若身？
吾所以有大患者，為吾有身，及吾無身，吾有何患？
故貴以身為天下，若可寄天下；
愛以身為天下，若可託天下。

Favor and disgrace are received with alarm; great trouble is prized as the body is.
What is meant by “favor and disgrace are received with alarm”?
Favor is lowly: gaining it is alarming, losing it is alarming. This is what is meant by “favor and disgrace are received with alarm.”
What is meant by “great trouble is prized as the body is”?
The reason I have great trouble is that I have a body. If I had no body, what trouble would I have?
So one who values the world as his own body can be entrusted with the world;
one who loves the world as his own body can be given charge of the world.