上士闻道，勤而行之；中士闻道，若存若亡；下士闻道，大笑之。不笑不足以為道。故建言有之：明道若昧；进道若退；夷道若纇；上德若谷；广德若不足；建德若偷；质真若渝；大白若辱；大方无隅；大器晚成；大音希声；大象无形；道隐无名。夫唯道，善贷且成。

Te Ching Chapter Forty-one

When a superior man heard of Tao,

He cultivates himself diligently.

When an average man heard of Tao,

He is doubtful, vague and would give up halfway.

When an inferior man heard of Tao,

He laughs and thinks of It as foolish.

If Tao is not being laughed at,

It is not the Great Tao.

Thus, there is a traditional saying of,

One who is enlightened with Tao may appear foolish.

He who is advancing in Tao may appear to withdraw.

Great Tao is plain and simple which can adapt to all circumstances, although It may seem uneven and rough.

A man of superior virtue is like an empty, receptive valley.

A man of innocence may appear to be disgraced.

A man of great virtue appears to be deficient.

A man who practices Tao and actively achieves great merits may appear gentle and meek.

A man who follows his true self may appear to be changeable.

Generosity has no rough angels.

Great achievement is time consuming, and is slow to complete.

Great tone has no sound.

Great Tao is formless,

It is invisible and has no name.

It benefits all and fulfills all.