天道 · 损有余而补不足
Tiān Dào
Classical Chinese Text
天之道，其犹张弓与？高者抑下，下者举之，有余者损之，不足者补之。天之道，损有余而补不足。人之道，则不然，损不足以奉有余。孰能有余以奉天下？ 唯有道者。是以圣人为而不恃，功成而不处，其不欲见贤。
Translation & Meaning
自然天道的运作，不正像拉开弓弦调准箭位一样吗？弦位过高就往下压低一些，过低就往上抬高一些；拉得过满有余就减损松弛一些，张力不足就增补调紧一些。 所以自然天道，总是减损过剩有余来补益匮乏不足。而世俗偏私的人道却恰恰相反——往往剥削贫弱不足之人，去供奉本已富足过剩的权贵。 谁能够把自己富足有余的财富与能力无私奉献给天下呢？唯有真正体行大道的人！ 因此圣人有所施为却不自恃其功，大功告成却不独占高位，他从不刻意显耀自己的贤能。
Linguistic & Character Analysis
- 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
- 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
- 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
- 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
- 犹 (yóu): classical character (yóu)
- 张 (zhāng): classical character (zhāng)
- 弓 (gōng): classical character (gōng)
- 与 (yǔ): classical character (yǔ)
- 高 (gāo): high / exalted
- 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
- 抑 (yì): classical character (yì)
- 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
- 举 (jǔ): classical character (jǔ)
- 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
- 余 (yú): classical character (yú)
- 损 (sǔn): classical character (sǔn)
- 不 (bù): not / un- / without
- 足 (zú): classical character (zú)
- 补 (bǔ): classical character (bǔ)
- 而 (ér): yet / and / but
- 人 (rén): person / human
- 则 (zé): classical character (zé)
- 然 (rán): classical character (rán)
- 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
- 奉 (fèng): classical character (fèng)
- 孰 (shú): classical character (shú)
- 能 (néng): fruitful / capacity / ability
- 唯 (wéi): only / precisely because
- 是 (shì): this / therefore
- 圣 (shèng): sage / enlightened one
- 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
- 恃 (shì): classical character (shì)
- 功 (gōng): achievement / merit
- 成 (chéng): complete / fulfill
- 处 (chù): stays / dwells / position
- 欲 (yù): intent / desire / craving
- 见 (jiàn): see / display / manifest
- 贤 (xián): talents / worthy / clever
Commentary
青禾散人评注：马太效应（损不足以奉有余）是世俗贪欲系统的惯性，必然导致极化崩裂；而天道如张弓调弦，损有余以补不足。有道者顺天而行，主动以己之有余回馈天地社会。