He who tiptoeing can’t stand, he who jumping can't march; he who seein
苦恩 · Kǔ Ēn
Classical Chinese Text
企者不立，跨者不行；自见者不明；自是者不彰；自伐者无功；自矜者不长。 其在道也，曰余食赘形。物或恶之，故有道者不处。
Translation & Meaning
He who tiptoeing can’t stand, he who jumping can't march; he who seeing (only) himself is not bright; he who commending himself is not prominent; he who boasting himself is not prestigious; he who conceiting himself is not long-lasting.
Linguistic & Character Analysis
- 企 (qǐ): classical character (qǐ)
- 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
- 不 (bù): not / un- / without
- 立 (lì): classical character (lì)
- 跨 (kuà): classical character (kuà)
- 行 (xíng): practice / teach / walk
- 自 (zì): classical character (zì)
- 见 (jiàn): see / display / manifest
- 明 (míng): classical character (míng)
- 是 (shì): this / therefore
- 彰 (zhāng): classical character (zhāng)
- 伐 (fá): classical character (fá)
- 无 (wú): formless void / non-being / without
- 功 (gōng): achievement / merit
- 矜 (jīn): classical character (jīn)
- 长 (cháng): long / enduring / grow
- 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
- 在 (zài): classical character (zài)
- 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
- 也 (yě): [modal particle of assertion]
- 曰 (yuē): classical character (yuē)
- 余 (yú): classical character (yú)
- 食 (shí): classical character (shí)
- 赘 (zhuì): classical character (zhuì)
- 形 (xíng): contrast / appearance
- 物 (wù): things / phenomena / forms
- 或 (huò): tangible / perhaps / presence
- 恶 (è): ugly / aversion / evil
- 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
- 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
- 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
- 处 (chù): stays / dwells / position