All truly valued things at first

Meet no responsive recognition;

It's just because they are so great

That they seem to be undescried.

One's speech from the outset

Has no well-established presentation;

It's just because of that

There come delimitations

Of different viewpoints and opinions.

As for all those delimitations,

They run to the left and to the right,

They are relations and obligations,

Classifications and distinctions,

Emulations and contentions

To be termed 'the eight delimitations.'

The great course does not admit of being praised;

The great argument does not require utterance;

The great love is not officiously lovable;

The great impartiality does not vaunt its humility;

The great courage is not seen in stubborn bravery.

Truly, the course that is shown off is not the course;

Words that are argumentative do not reach the point;

Love that is benevolently exercised

Does not accomplish its object;

Impartiality that vaunts its purity is not genuine;

Courage that is most stubborn is ineffectual.

These five things seem to be round and complete,

But just because of that they tend to be square

And fixed. Therefore, the knowledge that stops

At what it does not know is the great wisdom.