← Table of contents Tao Te Ching illustration
五色令人目盲;
Wǔ sè lìng rén mù máng;
The multitude of colors blinds the eyes.
五音令人耳聋;
Wǔ yīn lìng rén ěr lóng;
The multitude of sounds deafen the ears.
五味令人口爽;
Wǔ wèi lìng rén kǒu shuǎng;
The multitude of flavors dulls the taste.
驰骋畋猎,
Chí chěng tián liè,
Chasing and hunting unsettle the mind.
令人心发狂;
Lìng rén xīn fā kuáng;
Chasing wealth entangles the heart.
难得之货,
Nán dé zhī huò,
Rare objects obstruct one's path.
令人行妨。
Lìng rén xíng fáng.
Therefore, the sage focuses on the inner self rather than outer appearances,
是以圣人为腹不为目,
Shì yǐ shèngrén wéi fù bù wéi mù,
Letting go of the external and embracing the internal.