Chapter 49

1. The sage¹ has no invariable mind of his own; he makes the mind of the people his mind.

2. To those who are good (to me), I am good; and to those who are not good (to me), I am also good;--and thus (all) get to be good. To those who are sincere (with me), I am sincere; and to those who are not sincere (with me), I am also sincere;--and thus (all) get to be sincere.

3. The sage has in the world an appearance of indecision, and keeps his mind in a state of indifference² to all. The people all keep their eyes and ears directed to him, and he deals with them all as his children.

       圣人无常心，以百姓之心为心。
       善者，吾善之；不善者，吾亦善之──德善。
       信者，吾信之；不信者，吾亦信之──德信。
       圣人在天下，歙歙焉为天下浑其心。
       百姓皆注其耳目，圣人皆孩之。

【译文】
       圣人没有恒常不变的思想主张，他以百姓的思想主张为思想主张。百姓的主张，合于自己的价值观的，予以善待；不合于自己的价值观的，也予以善待。这样就可以得到人们的共同善待。百姓的观点，自己认为正确的，予以信任；自己不认为是正确的，也予以信任。这样就可以获得人们的共同信任。圣人在天下，忍气吞声似的为了天下而使自己陷于糊涂。百姓们聪明而自觉，圣人则像慈母对待孩子一样对待他们。

1 sage   

n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的

参考例句：

• I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
• The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。

2 indifference   

n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎

参考例句：

• I was disappointed by his indifference more than somewhat.他的漠不关心使我很失望。
• He feigned indifference to criticism of his work.他假装毫不在意别人批评他的作品。