Chapter 57 |
以正治國,以奇用兵,以無事取天下。吾何以知其然哉,以此!天下多忌諱,而民彌貧;人多利器,國家滋昏;人多伎巧,奇物滋起;法令溢彰,盜賊多有。故聖人云:我無為而民自化,我好靜而民自正,我無事而民自富,我無欲而民自樸! |
yi zheng zhi guo |
Govern the country with fairness. |
yi qi yong bing |
Employ military forces in a unique manner to avoid direct confrontation. |
yi wu shi qu tian xia |
Settle any dispute peacefully to earn respect from all people. |
wu he yi zhi qi ran |
How do I know it is the way? It is by understanding dao. |
tian xia duo ji hui, er min mi pin |
When the country is full of restrictions and taboos, the people will become poorer and poorer. |
ren duo li qi, guo jia |
When the people are full of lucrative business, the country will become chaotic. |
ren duo ji qiao, qi wu |
When the people are full of tricks, society will be flooded with traps. |
fa ling zi zhang, dao |
When the country is full of rules and ordinances, it will only reflect there are plenty of robbers and thieves. |
gu sheng ren yun, wo |
Therefore the shengren says, “I run the country with the non-possession administration and the people themselves will be self-governing.” |
wo hao jing er min zi |
“I treasure calmness for my pre-logical thinking to explore new devices and the people themselves will be fair to each other.” |
wo wu shi er min zi fu |
“I guarantee peace and the people themselves will be living prosperously.” |
wo wu yu er min zi pu |
“I treasure exploring new knowledge and the people themselves will open up their minds.” |