《道德经》第三十八章原文：
上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以无德。上德无为而无以为；下德无为而有以为。上仁为之而无以为；上义为之而有以为。上礼为之而莫之应，则攘臂而扔之。故失道而后德，失德面后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。夫礼者，忠信之薄，而乱之首。前识者，道之华，而愚之始。是以大丈夫处其厚，不居其薄；处其实，不居其华。故去彼取此。
本章是《道德经》中“德经”的首篇，文辞艰涩，涉及了“道”、“德”、“仁”、“义”、“礼”、“忠”、“信”等多个概念。
根据我粗浅的理解译为：
最有德行的的人往往不自以为有德，所以他们是真正有德的人。最卑劣的德行常常把德挂在嘴边以标榜自己有德，其实他们是真正缺德的人。最有德行的人顺应自然之道而没有什么可做的，更没有什么图谋。最没有德行的人为了自己的私利什么都可以去做。提倡仁爱的人什么事都做，虽然没有图谋，但实际上也没有做了什么。讲义举的人是有图谋地去做事。讲礼仪的人做了什么之后，如果得不到回应，他就会强求别人有所回应。
因此，人们失去了道之后就会大力宣扬德，再失去了德之后会积极提倡仁爱，再失去了仁爱之后会希望出现义举，如果连义举都失去了，那就会讲起礼义来了。什么是礼仪呢？礼义实际上是人们忠信不足的产物（像盖在丑陋污秽之物上的一块遮羞布），而且是祸乱的开始。
所谓先知先觉，只不过是对道有了点皮毛认识就徒有虚名罢了，这是愚昧无知的开始。所以真正有智有勇的人会实实在在地立身敦厚慎行，而不轻薄妄为；处于朴实之地，而不虚华无实。所以我们要舍弃轻薄虚华而择取敦厚朴实。
我用简单英语翻译如下：
The most virtuous man often does not think he is virtuous, so he is a true virtuous man. The man who does not possess virtue often talk about virtue in order to flaunt their own virtue, but really is he a person whithout virtue. The most virtuous man conforms to the Nature's principle and have nothing to do. The man who does not possess virtue can do anything for his own interests. He who advocate benevolence can do everything but he has not done anything actually although he has no intentions. He who holds righteousness can to do something with intentions. He who values etiquette will do somthing but he requests responses. If he hasn's gotten any responses，he would force others to respond to him.
Therefore，when people lost the Nature's principle，they would vigorously publicize the importance of virtue，and when they lost virtue，they would actively call for benevolence,，and when they lost benevolence，they would want righteous deeds，an If even righteous deeds are lost，they would give much regard to etiquette. What is etiquette? Actually，Etiquette is the resuls of people's lack of loyalty ，credibility and honesty，it may be the beginning of disasters.（Etiquette，just like the shroud that can be used to cover ugly and filthy things.）
The so-called prophecy，is nothing but knowing a little from the sursace of the Nature's principle. In fact it is the beginning of ignorance.
Therefore，the truly wise and brave man mast be one who is honest and prudent，not frivolous and arrogant and swaggering；mast be one who simple and plain，not empty and hypocritical，and unreal. So we should abandon the latter and and choose the former.
