1. my words are very easy to know, and very easy to practise; but there is no one in the world who is able to know and able to practise them.

2. there is an originating and all-comprehending (principle) in my words, and an authoritative law for the things (which i enforce). it is because they do not know these, that men do not know me.

3. they who know me are few, and i am on that account (the more) to be prized. it is thus that the sage wears (a poor garb of) hair cloth, while he carries his (signet of) jade in his bosom.

吾言甚易知，甚易行。

天下莫能知，莫能行。

言有宗，事有君。

夫唯无知，是以不我知。

知我者希，则我者贵。

是以圣人被褐而怀玉。

【译文】

我的话很容易理解，很容易实行。而天下却没有人能理解，没有人去实行。言论有宗旨用意，行事有主从动机。正是因为对这用意、动机的不明白，所以才导致对我的不理解。能理解我的人很少，能效法我而在行事中加以贯彻的就更难能可贵。因此，圣人外面穿着的似乎是粗布衣裳，但里面包含着的却是稀世美玉！