← Table of contents Tao Te Ching illustration
以正治国,
Yǐ zhèng zhì guó,
Lead the nation with integrity,
以奇用兵,
Yǐ qí yòng bīng,
Deploy unexpected tactics in war,
以无事取天下。
Yǐ wú shì qǔ tiānxià.
Achieve world control through non-interference.
吾何以知其然哉?
Wú hé yǐ zhī qí rán zāi?
How do I know this to be true?
以此:
Yǐ cǐ:
Because:
天下多忌讳,
Tiānxià duō jìhuì,
The more prohibitions there are,
而民弥贫;
Ér mín mí pín;
The poorer the people become;
人多利器,
Rén duō lì qì,
The sharper the tools,
国家滋昏;
Guójiā zī hūn;
The more chaotic the state;
人多伎巧,
Rén duō jì qiǎo,
The more exquisite the crafts,
奇物滋起;
Qí wù zī qǐ;
The stranger things appear;
法令滋彰,
Fǎlìng zī zhāng,
The more regulations,
盗贼多有。
Dàozéi duō yǒu.
The more thieves and robbers.
故圣人云:
Gù shèngrén yún:
Thus, the sage says:
我无为,
Wǒ wúwéi,
I practice non-action,
而民自化;
Ér mín zì huà;
And the people transform themselves;
我好静,
Wǒ hǎo jìng,
I cherish tranquility,
而民自正;
Ér mín zì zhèng;
And the people become just;
我无事,
Wǒ wú shì,
I avoid meddling,
而民自富;
Ér mín zì fù;
And the people enrich themselves;
我无欲,
Wǒ wú yù,
I have no desires,
而民自朴。
Ér mín zì pǔ.
And the people return to simplicity.