老子《道德經(jīng)》英譯第九章

　　持而盈之，不如其已;揣而銳之，不可長保;

　　金玉滿堂，莫之能守;富貴而驕，自遺其咎。

　　功遂身退，天之道也。

　　【現(xiàn)代漢語】

　　執(zhí)著于名利、貪得無厭，不如克制欲望、適可而止;鋒芒畢露，難以保持長久。

　　金玉滿堂，沒有人能永遠守住;富貴而驕，便會招來禍患。成就了功業(yè)應(yīng)知道收斂而不占有功績。這才是符合‘道’的做法。

　　【英譯】

　　It is better to restraint desire and stop where it should stop, than to rigid in fame and gain and be insatiable; you can not long save yourself from damage if you make a great show of your talents and self-esteem.

　　When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe enduringly; when wealth and honors lead to arrogance, this brings its evil on itself.

　　It’s the way accord with the standard of Tao’s that makes heart being restraining, self-effacing after achievement is accomplished.

　　【備注】

　　老子所說之“身退”，并不嚴格界定為隱退，而是退讓、收斂。

　　從歷史和現(xiàn)實中不難看到，在功成事遂是保持淡定確實非一般人所能做到，而退避、收斂就更難;相反的，在沒落、不得志的時候能夠保持清醒、持守虛靜、“盈魄抱一”更是難上加難。

　　修養(yǎng)至圣人境界確實非凡夫所能。