道德经英文版（论德第三十八）
~{ 上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以无德。~}
~{ 上德无为而无以为；下德无为而有以为。~}
~{ 上仁为之而无以为；上义为之而有以为。~}
~{ 上礼为之而莫之应，则攘臂而扔之。~}
~{ 故失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。~}
~{ 夫礼者，忠信之薄，而乱之首。~}
~{ 前识者，道之华，而愚之始。是以大丈夫处其厚，不居其薄；处~}
~{其实，不居其华。故去彼取此。~}
38. Ritual
Well established hierarchies are not easily uprooted;
Closely held beliefs are not easily let go;
So ritual enthralls generation after generation.
Harmony does not care for harmony, and so is naturally attained;
But ritual is intent upon harmony, and so can not attain it.
Harmony neither acts nor reasons;
Love acts, but without reason;
Justice acts to serve reason;
Ritual acts to enforce reason.
When flow is lost, there remains harmony;
When harmony is lost, there remains love;
When love is lost, there remains justice;
When justice is lost, there remains ritual.
Ritual is the end of compassion and honesty,
The beginning of confusion;
Faith is a colorful hope or fear,
The beginning of folly.
The gentle go by harmony, not by hope;
They live on the fruit, not the flower;
They accept substance, and ignore appearance.