Ingrained thoughts and a high estimate

Of their own conduct; leaving the world,

And pursuing uncommon methods; talking loftily

And in resentful disparagement of others --

All these are simply symptoms of arrogance.

This is what scholars and intellectuals

Who betake themselves to the hills and vales,

Who are always blaming the whole world,

And who stand aloof like withered trees

Or throw themselves into deeps, are fond of.

Discoursing of loyalty and good faith;

Being humble and frugal, self-forgetful

And courteous -- all these are simply sings

Of self-improvement. This is what teachers

And preachers who wish to pacify the world

By all means they know, men who pursue

Their studies at home and abroad, are fond of.

Discoursing of their great merits and

Making a great name for themselves;

Insisting on the ceremonies and

Rectifying the relationships

Between the superiors on high

And inferiors in the lower region --

All this shows their one objective

To be the promotion of government.

This is what officers of the court,

Men who honour their superiors

And would strengthen the state and who

Would do their utmost to incorporate

Other countries with their own, are fond of.

Resorting to mountains and streams;

Dwelling in solitary placements;

Occupying themselves with hunting

And angling and living at ease --

All this shows their one objective

To be of doing no further ado. This is

What gentlemen of the rivers and hills,

Men who avoid the society of the world

And desire to live at leisure, are fond of.

Blowing and breathing with open mouth;

Inhaling and exhaling the abdominal breath;

Expelling the old breath and taking in new;

Passing their time like the dormant bear and

Stretching and twisting the neck like a crane --

All this simply shows the desire for longevity.

This is what the practitioners of 'qi-gong'

Who manipulate their breath, and men who

Nourish the body and wish to dwell as long

As the immortals themselves, are fond of.

As to those who have a lofty character

Without any ingrained thoughts;

Who pursue the path of self-cultivation

Without ever looking on others; who succeed

In government without great services or fame;

Who enjoy their ease without resorting to

The rivers and hills; who attain to longevity

Without the management of the breath;

Who forget all things and yet possess all things;

Whose placidity is unlimited, while all things

To be valued attend them: such men

Pursue the way of Heaven and Earth,

And display the characteristics of the true men

Also known among ordinary people as sages.