第五十八章


其政闷闷，其民淳淳；
其政察察，其民缺缺。
祸兮福之所倚，福兮祸之所伏。
孰知其极？
其无正，正复为奇，善复为妖，人之迷，其日固久。
是以圣人方而不割，廉而不刿，直而不肆，光而不耀。



Chapter 58


If a country is governed with tolerance,
the people are comfortable and honest.
If a country is governed with repression,
the people are depressed and crafty.

When the will to power is in charge,
the higher the ideals, the lower the results.
Try to make people happy,
and you lay the groundwork for misery.
Try to make people moral,
and you lay the groundwork for vice.

Thus the Master is content
to serve as an example
and not to impose her will.
She is pointed, but doesn't pierce.
Straightforward, but supple.
Radiant, but easy on the eyes.