【原文】

　　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：馀食赘形。物或恶之，故有道者不处。

　　【现代汉语】

　　踮起脚跟是站不稳的;大跨步行进是不能持久的;自我表现是不能被人瞩目的;自以为是是不能得到认可的;自我夸耀是不能建立功勋的;自命不凡是不会长久的。

　　从‘道’的观点来看，这些急躁、矫饰的行为好像剩饭赘肉一样，是招人厌恶的，所以有道的人是不会这样做的。

　　【英译】

　　He who stands on his tiptoes can not stand firm; he who stretches his legs can not walk easily. So, self-expression will not be focused; self-righteous behavior will not be recognized; self-display will not be regarded as contribution; self-glorification will make people stop.

　　These kind of behavior, viewed from the standpoint of the Tao, are like remnants of food, or a tumour on the body, which all dislike. So those who pursue the course of the Tao do not adopt and allow them.