Detailed Translation Comparison
Quote by Lao Tzu
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English
Translation 1
41
When the highest type of men hear Tao, The diligently practice it. When the average type of men hear Tao, They half believe in it.
When the lowest type of men hear Tao, They laugh heartily at it. If they did not laugh at it, it would not be Tao.
Therefore there is the established saying: The Tao which is bright appears to be dark. The Tao which goes forward appears to fall backward. The Tao which is level appears uneven. Great virtue appears like a valley (hollow). Great purity appears like disgrace. Far-reaching virtue appears as if insufficient.
Solid virtue appears as if unsteady. True substance appears to be changeable. The great square has no corners. The great implement (or talent) is slow to finish (or mature). Great music sounds faint. Great form has no shape.
Tao is hidden and nameless. Yet it is Tao alone that skillfully provides for all and brings them to perfection.
Characters:
894
Words:
158
Comments:
0
Last updated:
2026-02-13 13:43
German
Translation 2
Sinnspruch
Wenn der wirklich Weise von Tao hört,
so wandelt er auf dessen Bahn.
Der halb nur Weise folgt bald Tao,
bald verliert er ihn.
Die Dummen aber, hören sie von Tao,
verlachen ihn,
und lachten sie nicht,
so wäre es wirklich nicht Tao.
So lautet denn ein Spruch:
Wer von Tao erleuchtet ist,
scheint dunkel.
Wer Taos Weg gegangen,
scheint zurückgeblieben.
Sein ebener Weg erscheinet rauh,
das reichste Leben scheinet leer,
die größte Reinheit scheint wie Schmach,
der geistige Besitz so arm,
die Tugendstärke wie ein Schwanken,
wer echt im Glauben, scheint zu wanken -
Das große Geviert scheint ohne Ecken,
ein riesiges Gefäß, unvollendet,
ein großer Ton, der schwach nur schallt.
Tao ist verborgen, namenlos,
nur im Sichverschenken,
im Vollenden groß.
Characters:
758
Words:
123
Comments:
0
Last updated:
2026-02-13 13:43
Comparison Metrics
Character Difference
-136
chars shorter
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Word Count Difference
-35
words less
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Similarity Score
20.9%
Very different approaches
ℹ️ Understanding the Metrics:
- Character/Word Difference: Shows how much longer or shorter Translation 2 is compared to Translation 1
- Similarity Score: Measures how similar the two texts are based on character-level comparison (higher = more similar)
- These metrics help you understand stylistic differences, but don't necessarily indicate translation quality