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"Accept honors and disgraces as surprises, Treasure great misfortunes as the body. Why say: "Accept honors and disgraces as surprises"? Honors elevate (shang), Disgraces depress (hsia). One receives them surprised, Loses them surprised. Thus: "Accept honors and disgraces as surprises." Why say: "Treasure great misfortunes as the body"? I have great misfortunes, Because I have a body. If I don't have a body, What misfortunes do I have? Therefore treasure the body as the world, As if the body can be entrusted to the world. Love the body as the world, As if the body can be entrusted to the world."
Author
Lao TzuAll Translations
English
"Accept honors and disgraces as surprises, Treasure great misfortunes as the body. Why say: "Accept honors and disgraces as surprises"? Honors elevate (shang), Disgraces depress (hsia). One receives them surprised, Loses them surprised. Thus: "Accept honors and disgraces as surprises." Why say: "Treasure great misfortunes as the body"? I have great misfortunes, Because I have a body. If I don't have a body, What misfortunes do I have? Therefore treasure the body as the world, As if the body can be entrusted to the world. Love the body as the world, As if the body can be entrusted to the world."