The Old Master

Rulers

Rulers

number seventeen [eightteen and Nineteen]

With the highest rulers -

Those below simply know they exist.

With those one step down -

They love and praise them.

With those one further step down -

They fear them.

And with those at the bottom -

They ridicule and insult them.

Who does not trust enough

will not be trusted.

Hesitant and undecided!

Like this is his respect for speaking.

He completes his tasks and finishes his affairs

Yet the common people say,

"These things all happened by nature."

The loss of Tao

[Seventeen,] Eighteen [and nineteen]

Therefore When the great Tao is rejected,

the virtues of humanity and righteousness arise.

When knowledge and wisdom appear,

It is then that the great hypocricy begins.

When the six relations are not in harmony,

Filial piety and compassion arise.

And when the country is in chaos and confusion,

it is then that Virtuous officials appear.

Simplicity

[Seventeen, eightteen and] Nineteen

Give up sainthood, renounce knowledge,

And the people will benefit a hundredfold.

Eliminate humanity, renounce righteousness,

And people will return to filial piety and compassion.

Give up ingenuity, renounce profit,

And bandits and thieves will disappear.

These three sayings -

Regarded as a text are yet not complete.

Thus we must see to it

That they have the following appended:

Manifest plainness and embrace the genuine;

Lessen selfinterest and make your desires few,

Eliminate learning and have no undue concern.