Chapter 33 — Discerning virtue辯德
1One who knows others is wise
知人者智，自知者明。
One who knows others is wise, and one who knows himself is bright.
note 3
知人者，智而已矣，未若自知者超智之上也。
Knowing others is merely to be wise; it does not match knowing oneself, which goes beyond wisdom.
能知人好惡，是為智。
If one can know what others like and dislike, this is wisdom.
人能自知賢與不肖，是為反聽無聲，內視無形，故為明也。
If a person can know for himself whether he is worthy or unworthy, this is to listen back to what has no sound and to look inward on what has no form; and so it becomes brightness.
2One who overcomes himself is strong
勝人者有力，自勝者強。
One who overcomes others has force, and one who overcomes himself is strong.
note 3
勝人者，有力而已矣，未若自勝者無物以損其力，用其智於人，未若用其智於己也。用其力於人，未若用其力於己也。明用於己，則物無避焉，力用於己，則物無改焉。
Overcoming others is merely to have force; it does not match one who overcomes himself and does not let things diminish his force. Using one's wisdom on others does not match using one's wisdom on oneself, and using one's strength on others does not match using one's strength on oneself. Use brightness on yourself, and no thing escapes you; use strength on yourself, and no thing alters you.
能勝人者，不過以威力也。
Being able to overcome others goes no further than authority and force.
人能自勝己情欲，則天下無有能與己爭者，故為強也。
If a person can himself overcome his own feelings and desires, then under heaven there is no one able to contend with him; and so he is strong.
3One who knows what is enough is rich
知足者富。
One who knows what is enough is rich.
note 2
知足自不失，故富也。
One who knows what is enough loses nothing of himself, and so is rich.
人能知足，則長保福祿，故為富也。
If a person can know what is enough, he keeps blessing and emolument for long; and so he is rich.
4One who presses on has will
強行者有志。
One who presses on has will.
note 2
勤能行之，其志必獲，故曰强行者有志矣。
If one can act diligently, one is sure to gain what one intends. Hence it says that one who presses on has will.
人能強力行善，則為有意於道，道亦有意於人。
If a person can press on with strength in doing good, he has set his intent on the Dao, and the Dao in turn sets its intent on him.
5One who does not lose his place lasts long
不失其所者久。
One who does not lose his place lasts long.
note 2
以明自察，量力而行，不失其所，必獲久長矣。
If one examines oneself by brightness, measures one's strength in acting, and does not lose one's own place, one is sure to last long.
人能自節養，不失其所受天之精氣，則可以久。
If a person restrains and nourishes himself and does not lose the vital essence he received from heaven, he can last long.
6One who dies without perishing lives long
死而不亡者壽。
One who dies and yet does not perish lives long.
note 2
雖死而以為生之道不亡，乃得全其壽，身沒而道猶存，況身存而道不卒乎。
Though one dies, if the Dao by which one lives does not perish, one can keep one's life whole. Even when the body is gone the Dao still remains — how much more when the body remains and the Dao has not come to an end.
目不妄視，耳不妄聽，口不妄言，則無怨惡於天下，故長壽。
If the eyes do not look at random, the ears do not listen at random, and the mouth does not speak at random, then there is no resentment or hatred under heaven; and so one lives long.