Chapter 20

絕學無憂。
唯之與阿，相去幾何？
善之與惡，相去若何？
人之所畏，不可不畏。
荒兮其未央哉！
眾人熙熙，如享太牢，如登春臺。
我獨泊兮其未兆，如嬰兒之未孩。
儽儽兮，若無所歸。
眾人皆有餘，而我獨若遺。
我愚人之心也哉！
沌沌兮。
俗人昭昭，我獨昏昏。
俗人察察，我獨悶悶。
澹兮其若海，飉兮若無止。
眾人皆有以，我獨頑且鄙。
我獨異於人，而貴食母。

Cut off learning, and there is no worry.
“Yes, sir” and “uh-huh”: how far apart are they?
Good and evil: how far apart are they?
What others fear, I too must fear.
Vast and wild, with no end in sight!
The crowd is merry, as if at a great feast of oxen, as if climbing a terrace in spring.
I alone am placid and give no sign, like an infant that has not yet learned to smile.
Weary, weary, as if with no home to go back to.
The crowd all have more than enough; I alone seem left with nothing.
Mine is the heart of a fool!
Muddled, so muddled.
Ordinary people are bright; I alone am dim.
Ordinary people are sharp; I alone am dull.
Calm, like the sea; gusting, as if it would never stop.
The crowd all have their uses; I alone am stubborn and uncouth.
I alone am different from others: I prize the nursing mother.