Heaven is clear
Earth is firm
River and stream flow freely
Cars move on their own
Inns and taverns are full
Workers are well-fed
Workers perform their work
Workers are treated fairly
Everyone acts naturally
All things are born
Bodily life begins
Spake words never existed
Though considered truly free of need
Everything on earth begins
Born and not born
What is in is in
other readings further drafts from the same generation
deeper strata where the meaning thins
the original
1. Favour and disgrace would seem equally to be feared; honour and
great calamity, to be regarded as personal conditions (of the same
kind).
2. What is meant by speaking thus of favour and disgrace? Disgrace is
being in a low position (after the enjoyment of favour). The getting
that (favour) leads to the apprehension (of losing it), and the losing
it leads to the fear of (still greater calamity):--this is what is
meant by saying that favour and disgrace would seem equally to be
feared.
And what is meant by saying that honour and great calamity are to be
(similarly) regarded as personal conditions? What makes me liable to
great calamity is my having the body (which I call myself); if I had
not the body, what great calamity could come to me?
3. Therefore he who would administer the kingdom, honouring it as he
honours his own person, may be employed to govern it, and he who would
administer it with the love which he bears to his own person may be
entrusted with it.