Chapter 12

From IKTWiki

第十二章: 君子之道

君子之道，費而隱。夫婦之愚，可以與知焉；及其至也，雖聖人亦有所不知焉。夫婦之不肖，可以能行焉；及其至也，雖聖人亦有所不能焉。天地之大也，人猶有所憾，故君子語大，天下莫能載焉；語小，天下莫能破焉。《詩》云：「鳶飛戾天，魚躍于淵。」言其上下察也。君子之道，造端乎夫婦，及其至也，察乎天地。

The Path that the virtuous pursue reaches far and wide, yet hidden.

The ignorant participates in understanding it. However the profound meaning, even the sage does not know it. The common participates in practicing it. However the profound meaning, even the sage is not able to carry into practice. Even with the greatness of Heaven and Earth, people still resent them. Therefore, when the virtuous speaks of its greatness, nothing in the world can contain it and when speak of its commonness, nothing in the world can comprehend it. Furthermore, a quote from the Book of Poetry, “The hawk flies up to heaven; the fish leaps into the deep.” This expresses how the Way is seen above and below.

The Way of the virtuous may be found in its simplest elements, such as a relationship between a man and woman; but in its utmost reaches, it shines brightly through Heaven and Earth.