上德无为而无以为；下德为之而有以为。
The man of highest “power” neither acts nor is there any who so regards him; the man of inferior “power” both acts and is so regarded.
上仁为之而无以为；上义为之而有以为。
The man of highest humanity, though he acts, is not regarded; whereas a man of even the highest morality both acts and is so regarded;
上礼为之而莫之应， 则攘臂而扔之。
While even he who is best versed in ritual not merely acts, but if people fail to respond then he will pull up his sleeves and advance upon them.
故失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。
That is why it is said:”After Tao was lost, then came the 'power'; After the 'power' was lost, then came human kindness.
After human kindness was lost, then came morality, after morality was lost, then came ritual.”
夫礼者，忠信之薄，而乱之首。
Now ritual is the mere husk of loyalty and promise-keeping and is indeed the first step towards brawling.
前识者，道之华，而愚之始。
Foreknowledge may be the flower of doctrine, but it is the beginning of folly.
是以大丈夫处其厚，不居其薄；处其实，不居其华。
Therefore the full-grown man takes his stand upon the solid substance and not upon the mere husk, upon the fruit and not upon the flower.
故去彼取此。
Truly, he reject that and takes this.