1. without going outside his door, one understands (all that takes place) under the sky; without looking out from his window, one sees the tao of heaven. the farther that one goes out (from himself), the less he knows.
2. therefore the sages got their knowledge without travelling; gave their (right) names to things without seeing them; and accomplished their ends without any purpose of doing so.
不出户,知天下;
不窥牖,见天道。
其出弥远,其知弥少。
是以圣人不行而知,不见而明,不为而成。
【译文】
不离开“家园”,也可以懂得怎么去经行天下;不向外感知察辨,也可以证解到道的境地。越是出离“家园”成为“专名”涉于专途,他的明辩能力就越是狭小。因此,圣人不待践行就有所自知,不待实察就已自明澈,不必多作多为也可坐收事成。