第34章 · 原文
现代白话译文
大道广泛啊，它可以左右一切。万物依靠它生存而它不推辞，功业成就了它也不占有名誉。它养育万物而不做万物的主宰，经常没有欲望，可以叫它渺小；万物归附于它而不做万物的主宰，可以叫它伟大。正因为它始终不自以为伟大，所以才能成就它的伟大。
多版本对照
王弼注（魏晋）
言道泛滥无所不适．过左右上下周旋而用．则无所不至也．万物皆由道而生．既生而不知其所由．故天下常无欲之时．万物各得其所．若道无施于物．故名于小矣．万物皆归之以生．而力使不知其所由．此不为小．故复可名于大矣．为大于其细．图难于其易.
河上公注（汉）
大道泛者，道泛泛广大，无所不适也。万物恃之以生者，万物赖道以生也。
王夫之《老子衍》（明末清初）
誰能以生恩天地乎，則誰能以死怨天地。天地者，與物為往來而聊以自壽也。天地且然，而況於道？荒荒乎其未有畔也，脈脈乎其有以通也；故東西無方，功名無繫，賓主無適，己生貴而物生不逆。誠然，則不見可欲，非以窒欲也；迭與為主，非以辭主也。彼亟欲成其大者，惡足以知之！
憨山德清《老子道德经解》（明）
此言道為天地萬物之本，欲人體道虛懷，而造乎至德也。謂道本無名，強名之一。故曰道生一。然天地人物，皆從此生。故曰一生二，二生三，三生萬物。是則萬物莫不負陰而抱陽也。所以得遂其生，不致夭折者，以物各含一沖虛之體也。和氣積中，英華昭著，秀實生成，皆道力也。故云沖氣以為和。是則物物皆以沖虛為本也。且沖虛柔弱，與物不類，似乎無用，人皆惡之而不取。殊不知無用之用為大用也。即如世人之所惡者，唯孤寡不穀，以為不美。而王公返以此為稱者，豈不以柔弱為天下之利器耶。且孤寡不穀，皆自損之辭也。然而侯王不自損，則天下不歸。故堯舜有天下而不與，至今稱之，澤流無窮，此自損而人益之。故曰或損之而益。若夫桀紂以天下奉一己，暴戾恣睢，但知有己，而不知有人。故雖有天下，而天下叛之，此自益者而人損之。故曰或益之而損。以人人皆具此道，但日用不知，須待教而後能。且人之所教者，我亦未嘗不教之也。惟人不善教人，祇知增益知見，使之矯矜恃氣，好為強梁。殊不知強梁者，不得其死。我唯教人以日損其欲，謙虛自守，以全沖和之德。是故吾將以為教父。而風天下以謙虛之德也。教父，猶木鐸意。
马王堆帛书异文（西汉）
道泛呵其可左右也，成功遂事而弗名有也。
郭店楚简异文（战国）
此章缺
English Translations / 英文译本
The great way flows everywhere, to left and right. All things depend on it to live, and it does not refuse them. When work is done, it does not claim possession. It clothes and feeds all things but does not rule them. This is called mysterious virtue. Because it does not claim to be great, it can achieve greatness.
The great way flows everywhere, to left and right. All things depend on it to live, and it does not refuse them. When work is accomplished, it does not claim possession. It clothes and feeds all things but does not rule them. This is called mysterious virtue. Because it does not claim to be great, it can achieve greatness.
The great way overflows, to left and right. Ten thousand things rely on it to live, and it does not refuse them. It achieves its work but does not dwell on it. It clothes and feeds the ten thousand things but does not rule them. This can be called small. The ten thousand things return to it but it does not rule them. This can be called great. Because it does not strive to be great, it can achieve greatness.