~{ 上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之~}
~{。不笑不足以为道。故建言有之：~}
~{ 明道若昧；~}
~{ 进道若退；~}
~{ 夷道若□；~}
~{ 上德若谷；~}
~{ 广德若不足；~}
~{ 建德若偷；~}
~{ 质真若渝；~}
~{ 大白若辱；~}
~{ 大方无隅；~}
~{ 大器晚成；~}
~{ 大音希声；~}
~{ 大象无形；~}
~{ 道隐无名。~}
~{ 夫唯道，善贷且成。~}
When the gentle learn flow, they use it with diligence;
When the common learn flow, they use it on occasion;
When the mean learn flow, they laugh out loud;
Those who do not laugh, do not learn it.
Therefore it is said:
Who understands flow seems foolish;
Who progresses with flow seems to fail;
Who follows flow seems to wander.
For the finest harmony appears plain;
The brightest truth appears colored;
The richest character appears incomplete;
The bravest heart appears meek;
The simplest nature appears inconstant.
The square, perfected, has no corner;
Music, perfected, has no melody;
Love, perfected, has no climax;
Art, perfected, has no meaning.
So flow can be neither sensed nor known:
It transmits sensation and transcends knowledge.