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
Greek
Translation 2
41
Όταν ο Σοφός ακούσει για το Ταό,
Προσπαθεί να το εφαρμόζει ακατάπαυστα.
Όταν ο συνηθισμένος άνθρωπος ακούσει για το Ταό,
Άλλοτε το εφαρμόζει, και άλλοτε όχι.
Όταν ο ανόητος ακούσει για το Ταό,
Γελάει.
Αν δεν γέλαγε, δε θα ήταν το Ταό.
Γι’αυτό και λένε:
Ο φωτεινός δρόμος μοιάζει σκοτεινός και μυστηριώδης,
Ο δρόμος προς τα εμπρός θυμίζει επιστροφή,
Ο ευθύς δρόμος δείχνει μακρύτερος.
Η μεγάλη δύναμη μοιάζει με αδυναμία,
Η αληθινή αγνότητα περνιέται για βρωμιά,
Η μεγάλη σταθερότητα δείχνει ευμετάβλητη,
Η πραγματικά διαπεραστική ματιά μοιάζει μυωπική,
Η υψηλή τέχνη δείχνει άμορφη,
Η μεγάλη αγάπη μοιάζει με αδιαφορία,
Η αληθινή σοφία μοιάζει απλοϊκή.
Το Ταό είναι αόρατο, κι όμως τρέφει και συμπληρώνει τα πάντα.
Characters:
720
Words:
115
Comments:
0
Last updated:
2026-02-13 13:43
Comparison Metrics
Character Difference
-174
chars shorter
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Word Count Difference
-43
words less
Translation 2 vs Translation 1
Similarity Score
3.7%
Very different approaches
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- Similarity Score: Measures how similar the two texts are based on character-level comparison (higher = more similar)
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