道之所止所起
Where the Way Halts and Where It Rises
文王寢疾，召太公望，太子發在側，曰：「嗚呼！天將棄予，周之社稷將以屬汝，今予欲師至道之言，以明傳之子孫。」太公曰：「王何所問？」文王曰：「先聖之道，其所止，其所起，可得聞乎？」太公曰：「見善而怠，時至而疑，知非而處，此三者，道之所止也。柔而靜，恭而敬，強而弱，忍而剛，此四者，道之所起也。故義勝欲則昌，欲勝義則亡，敬勝怠則吉，怠勝敬則滅。」
King Wen lay ill and summoned Taigong Wang, with Crown Prince Fa at his side. He said: 'Alas! Heaven is about to abandon me, and the altars of Zhou will soon pass to you. Now I wish to transmit the words of the highest Way as a teacher's legacy, clearly passed down to our descendants.' Taigong said: 'What does the king wish to ask?' King Wen said: 'The Way of the ancient sages — where it halts and where it rises — may I hear of these?' Taigong said: 'Seeing good but being idle, having the right moment arrive but hesitating, knowing what is wrong yet remaining in it — these three are where the Way halts. Being gentle yet still, respectful yet reverent, strong yet yielding, patient yet firm — these four are where the Way rises. Therefore when righteousness prevails over desire, there is flourishing; when desire prevails over righteousness, there is destruction. When diligence prevails over laziness, there is good fortune; when laziness prevails over diligence, there is ruin.'
Notes
Crown Prince Fa (太子發) is the future King Wu of Zhou (周武王), who would complete the conquest of the Shang dynasty begun by his father King Wen.