七十章
吾言甚易知,甚易行。
天下莫能知,莫能行。
言有宗,事有君。
夫唯无知,是以不我知。
知我者希,则我者贵。
是以圣人被褐而怀玉。
My teachings are very easy to understand
and very easy to practice,
But no one can understand them and
no one can practice them.
In my words there is a principle.
In the affairs of men there is a system.
Because they know not these,
They also know me not.
Since there are few that know me,
Therefore I am distinguished.
Therefore the Sage wears a coarse cloth on top
And carries jade within his bosom.