本章老子借“天地不自生故能长生”和圣人“后其身而身先,外其身而身存“的例子告诉我们见小利无以成大事,只有突破自我的“小”的局限,放下眼面前的私欲和利益才能避免无谓的盲动和损失。所谓因小失大也。
第七章
天长地久。天地所以能长且久者,以其不自生,故能长生。是以圣人后其身而身先,外其身而身存。不以其无私邪?故能成其私。
The universe is everlasting.
The reason the universe is everlasting
Is that it does not life for Self.
Therefore it can long endure.
Therefore the Sage puts himself last,
And finds himself in the foremost place;
Regards his body as accidental,
And his body is thereby preserved.
Is it not because he does not live for Self
That his Self is realized?