21. Neither foolish loyalty and filial piety nor sham benevolence and righteousness are advisable.

忠有愚忠，孝有愚孝，可知忠孝二字不是伶俐人做得來；仁有假仁，義有假義，可知仁義兩途不無奸惡人藏其內。

【今文解譯】

忠有冥頑愚昧的忠，孝有冥頑愚昧的孝。從中可以知道，真正的忠和孝不一定是那些八麵玲瓏的人可以做得到的。

仁有假模假樣的仁，義有假模假樣的義。從中可以知道，在講求仁義的人群裏，未必沒有奸佞邪惡的人混跡其中。

【English Translation】

There is loyalty which is called foolish loyalty and filial piety called foolish filial piety. These are the two moral entities that no smart guys can afford to go with.

There is benevolence which is called sham benevolence and righteousness called sham righteousness. These are the two paths in which the wicked ones hide themselves.

權勢如煙雲過眼 奸邪無事生非