Line by Line - Verse 56, Lines 12-13

he is beyond all consideration of profit or injury; of nobility or meanness:--he is the noblest man under heaven.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

With good and harm, with honor and disgrace.
This therefore is the highest state of man.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

They cannot obtain this and be benefited
They cannot obtain this and be harmed
They cannot obtain this and be valued
They cannot obtain this and be degraded
Therefore, they become honored by the world
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

about praise or scorn,
about winning or losing,
about honor or disgrace.
That's the way to be.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

The true sage is someone above the various superficialities of life. They do not alter their devotion to supreme virtue because of praise or condemnation. You can't bribe them to stray from their path. You can't shame them in order to try to fit their behavior to fit your desires.

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