这是一个简单的主系表结构，用词精准，直接点明了名声与社会冲突之间的因果关系。
"My life is finite, but knowledge is infinite. To follow the infinite with the finite is perilous; to persist in seeking knowledge despite this is even more perilous." (Our life is limited, while knowledge is boundless. Attempting to pursue infinite knowledge with a finite life leads to exhaustion; continuing to do so only deepens this fatigue.)
"Fame is the cause of mutual conflict; wisdom is the instrument of contention. Both are dangerous tools and should not be fully relied upon." (Fame is the source of mutual strife; intellect is the means of contention. These two are harmful instruments and are not suitable for universal application.)
"When the world is in harmony, the sage succeeds; when the world is in disorder, the sage merely survives. In the present era, one can barely escape punishment. Happiness is lighter than a feather, yet no one knows how to carry it; calamity is heavier than the earth, yet no one knows how to avoid it." (When the way prevails in the world, the sage accomplishes his mission; when the way is absent, the sage merely preserves his life. In today's times, one can only manage to avoid criminal penalties. Happiness is as light as a feather, yet no one knows how to bear it; misfortune is as heavy as the earth, yet no one knows how to evade it.)
"People all understand the usefulness of the useful, but they fail to perceive the greater usefulness of the useless." (Everyone recognizes the utility of what is deemed useful, but few understand the profound value of what appears useless.)
吾生也有涯，而知也无涯。以有涯随无涯，殆已;已而为知者，殆而已矣。(我们的生命是有限的，而知识却是无限的。要想用有限的生命去追求无限的知识，便会感到很疲倦;既然如此还要不停地去追求知识，便会弄得更加疲困不堪!)
名也者，相轧也;知也者，争之器。二者凶器，非所以尽行也。(名是相互倾轧的.原因;智是相互斗争的手段。两者是凶器，是不可以尽行的。)
天下有道，圣人成焉;天下无道，圣人生也。方今之时，仅免刑焉。福轻乎羽，莫之知载;祸重乎地，莫之知避。(天下有道，圣人可以成就事业;天下无道，圣人只能保全生命。现在这个时代，仅仅可以避开刑戮。幸福不过像羽毛那样轻，不知怎样才可以去承受;祸患重得像大地一样，不知怎样才能避免。)
人皆知有用之用，而莫知无用之用也。(人们都知道有用的用处，但不懂得无用的更大用处。)