The Short of It:
If ignorance is bliss, there’s nothing wrong with choosing ignorance.
20. on differing from the vulgar.
Abandon learning, and have no more vexation. Not much difference, after all, is there between Aye and Yes. And how much difference do they make between good and evil? One must, of course, dread what others dread (i.e. evil).
But, alas! they will never cease from their madness. All the people are full of ambitious desires, lusting as if for the stalled ox, or for sexual enjoyment.
I am alone in my timidity, and show no sign (of ambition). I am as a child not yet matured. I am forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. All (other) [people] have (enough and) to spare; but I am, as it were, left behind. In mind how like I am to the fool! I am all in a maze. The common people are brightly intelligent: I alone seem to be in the dark. The common people are discriminative: I alone am without discrimination. I am tossed as the ocean; I roll as if never to stop. All (other) [people] have something that they can do: I alone am good for nothing, and despicable. I alone differ from other people, but I glory in my nursing Mother (Tau).
20. ‘being different from ordinary [people].’
20.1
When we renounce learning we have no troubles. The (ready) ‘yes,’ and (flattering) ‘yea;’ - Small is the difference they display. But mark their issues, good and ill; - What space the gulf between shall fill?
What all [people] fear is indeed to be feared; but how wide and without end is the range of questions (asking to be discussed)!
20.2 The multitude of [people] look satisfied and pleased; as if enjoying a full banquet, as if mounted on a tower in spring. I alone seem listless and still, my desires having as yet given no indication of their presence. I am like an infant which has not yet smiled. I look dejected and forlorn, as if I had no home to go to. The multitude of [people] all have enough and to spare. I alone seem to have lost everything. My mind is that of a stupid [person]; I am in a state of chaos.
Ordinary [people] look bright and intelligent, while I alone seem to be benighted*. They look full of discrimination, while I alone am dull and confused. I seem to be carried about as on the sea, drifting as if I had nowhere to rest. All [people] have their spheres of action, while I alone seem dull and incapable, like a rude borderer. (Thus) I alone am different from other [people], but I value the nursing-mother (the Tao).
*Overtaken by darkness.
20. different from the vulgar.
20.1 Abandon learnedness, and you have no vexation. The “yes” compared with the “yea,” how little do they differ! But the good compared with the bad, how much do they differ! 20.2 If what the people dread cannot be made dreadless, there will be desolation, alas! and verily, there will be no end of it. 20.3 The multitudes of [people] are happy, so happy, as though celebrating a great feast. They are as though in springtime ascending a tower. I alone remain quiet, alas! like one that has not yet received an omen. I am like unto a babe that does not yet smile. 20.4 Forlorn am I, O so forlorn! It appears that I have no place whither I may return home. 20.5 The multitude of [people] all have plenty and I alone appear empty. Alas! I am a [person] whose heart is foolish. 20.6 Ignorant am I, O, so ignorant! Common people are bright, so bright, I alone am dull. 20.7 Common people are smart, so smart, I alone am confused, so confused. 20.8 Desolate am I, alas! like the sea. Adrift, alas! like one who has no place where to stay. 20.9 The multitude of [people] all possess usefulness. I alone am awkward and a rustic too. I alone differ from others, but I prize seeking sustenance from our mother.
