原文
公有领域大道氾兮，其可左右。
萬物恃之而生而不辭，功成不名有。衣養萬物而不為主，常無欲，可名於小；
萬物歸焉而不為主，可名為大。
以其終不自為大，故能成其大。
王弼注
待校读言道氾濫，無所不適，可左右上下周旋而用，則無所不至也。
萬物皆由道而生，既生而不知所由，故天下常無欲之時，萬物各得其所，若道無施於物，故名於小矣。
萬物皆歸之以生，而力使不知其所由，此不為小，故復可名於大矣。
為大於其細，圖難於其易。
河上公章句
待校读言道氾氾，若浮若沉，若有若無，視之不見，說之難殊。
道可左可右，無所不宜。
恃，待也。萬物皆待道而生。
道不辭謝而逆止也。
有道不名其有功也。
道雖愛養萬物，不如人主有所收取。
道匿德藏名，怕然無為，似若微小也。
萬物皆歸道受氣，道非如人主有所禁止也。
萬物橫來橫去，使名自在，故可名於大也。
聖人法道匿德藏名，不為滿大。
聖人以身師導，不言而化，萬事修治，故能成其大。
Legge 1891
Public domainAll-pervading is the Great Tao! It may be found on the left hand and on the right. All things depend on it for their production, which it gives to them, not one refusing obedience to it. When its work is accomplished, it does not claim the name of having done it. It clothes all things as with a garment, and makes no assumption of being their lord;--it may be named in the smallest things. All things return (to their root and disappear), and do not know that it is it which presides over their doing so;--it may be named in the greatest things. Hence the sage is able (in the same way) to accomplish his great achievements. It is through his not making himself great that he can accomplish them.