第24章 · 原文
现代白话译文
踮起脚尖想要站得高的人反而站不稳；迈着大步想要走得快的人反而走不远。自我表现的人反而不能显明；自以为是的人反而不能彰显；自我夸耀的人反而不能建立功勋；自高自大的人反而不能长久。从道的角度看，这些叫作剩饭赘瘤。人们厌恶它们，所以有道的人不这样做。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
物尚进则失安．故曰企者不立．不自见则其明全也．不自是则其是彰也．不自伐则其功有也．不自矜则其徳长也．其唯于道而论之．若郄至之行．盛馔之余也．本虽美更可秽也．本有功而自伐之．故更为肬赘者也.
河上公注（汉）
跂者不立者，跂者，踮脚而行，不能久立。跨者不行者，跨步而行，不能远行。自见不明者，自逞其能，不明道也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
心彌急者機彌失，是彌堅者非彌甚。前機已往，追而綴之，如食已飫而更設。後機未至，強而屬之，如形已具而更駢。道數無窮，執偏執餘以盡之，宜其憎乎物，而傷乎己也。
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此承前章言好辯者不能持久，猶如跂跨之人不能立行，甚言用智之過也。跂，足根不著地也。跨，闊步而行也。蓋跂者只知要強高出人一頭，故舉踵而立。殊不知舉踵不能久立。跨者只知要強先出人一步，故闊步而行。殊不知跨步不能長行。以其皆非自然。以此二句為向下自見自是自伐自矜之譬喻耳。自見，謂自逞己見。自是，謂偏執己是。此一曲之士，於道必暗而不明。自伐，謂自誇其功。自矜，謂自恃其能。此皆好勝強梁之人，不但無功，而且速於取死。然此道中本無是事。故曰其在道也，如食之餘，如形之贅，皆人之所共惡。而有道之士，以謙虛自守，必不處此。故曰有道者不處。以其不能合乎自然也。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
炊者不立，自视不彰，自见者不明，自伐者无功，自矜者不长。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
Those who stand on tiptoe do not stand firm. Those who stride forward do not go far. Those who show themselves do not shine. Those who justify themselves are not distinguished. Those who boast have no merit. Those who brag do not endure. From the point of view of the way, these are like leftover food and tumours. All things detest them. Therefore the man of the way does not dwell in them.
Those who stand on tiptoe do not stand firm. Those who stride forward do not go far. Those who show themselves do not shine. Those who justify themselves are not distinguished. Those who boast have no merit. Those who brag do not endure. From the point of view of the way, these are like leftover food and tumours. All things detest them. Therefore the man of the way does not dwell in them.
On tiptoe, one does not stand. Striding, one does not go forward. Showing oneself, one is not enlightened. Justifying oneself, one is not distinguished. Boasting, one has no merit. Bragging, one does not endure. From the way's perspective, this is called extra food and action. All things detest it. Therefore those with the way do not dwell in it.