1. to know and yet (think) we do not know is the highest (attainment); not to know (and yet think) we do know is a disease.

2. it is simply by being pained at (the thought of) having this disease that we are preserved from it. the sage has not the disease. he knows the pain that would be inseparable from it, and therefore he does not have it.

知不知，上；

不知知，病。

夫唯病病，是以不病。

圣人不病，以其病病，是以不病。

【译文】

知道自己有所不知，这很好；不掌握某知识，这当然有缺陷。只有通过因应缺陷而行，使缺陷不成其为缺陷，才可以因此而没有缺陷。圣人之所以没有缺陷，是因为他善于因应缺陷而行，使缺陷不成其为缺陷，所以没有缺陷。