Chapter 57 Govern the country with fairness

 

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
以正治國

Govern the country with fairness.

yi qi yong bing
以奇用兵

Employ military forces in a unique manner to avoid direct confrontation.

yi wu shi qu tian xia
以無事取天下

Settle any dispute peacefully to earn respect from all people.

wu he yi zhi qi ran
zai, yi ci
吾何以知其然哉,以此

How do I know it is the way? It is by understanding dao.

tian xia duo ji hui, er min mi pin
天下多忌諱,而民彌貧

When the country is full of restrictions and taboos, the people will become poorer and poorer.

ren duo li qi, guo jia
zi hun
人多利器,國家滋昏

When the people are full of lucrative business, the country will become chaotic.

ren duo ji qiao, qi wu
zi qi
人多伎巧,奇物滋起

When the people are full of tricks, society will be flooded with traps.

fa ling zi zhang, dao
zei duo you
法令溢彰,盜賊多有

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
wu wei er min zi hua
故聖人云,我無為而民自化

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
zheng
我好靜而民自正

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
我無事而民自富

I guarantee peace and the people themselves will be living prosperously.”

wo wu yu er min zi pu
我無欲而民自樸

I treasure exploring new knowledge and the people themselves will open up their minds.”