二十四章

　　企者不立；跨者不行；自见者不明；自是者不彰；自伐者无功；自矜者不长。其在道也，曰馀食赘形，物或恶之，故有道者不居。

　　He who stands on tiptoe does not stand (firm); He who strains his strides does not walk (well); He who reveals himself is not luminous; He who justifies himself is not far-famed; He who boasts of himself is not given credit; He who prides himself is not chief among men. These in the eyes of Tao are called "the dregs and tumors of Virtue," which are things of disgust. Therefore the man of Tao spurns them. 踮着脚尖站立的人站不稳。跨大步伐走路的人走不好。显摆自己的人不够显眼。为自己辩解的人名气不够昭彰。自我吹嘘的人别人不会把功劳归于他。矜持傲慢的人无法成为人们的领袖。从“道”的层面来看，这些都是道德的渣滓和累赘，是可恶的东西。因此得“道”的人唾弃它们。