57 以正治國 以奇用兵

老子道德經第五十七章

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
法令滋彰 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

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FIFTY-SEVEN (Feng)

Rule a nation with justice.
Wage war with surprise moves.
Become master of the universe without striving.
How do I know that this is so?
Because of this!

The more laws and restrictions there are,
The poorer people become.
The sharper men's weapons,
The more trouble in the land.
The more ingenious and clever men are,
The more strange things happen.
The more rules and regulations,
The more thieves and robbers.

Therefore the sage says:
I take no action and people are reformed.
I enjoy peace and people become honest.
I do nothing and people become rich.
I have no desires and people return to the good and simple life.

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57

"States are governed by justice,
Wars are waged by violations,
Yet the world is attained by not striving."

How does Lao Tsu know the things are?
Listen:
"Restrictions lead to more poverty;
Weapons, destruction;
Technologies, anomaly;
Laws, crime."

"Therefore," he continues,
"With my no action, people are self-honest;
With my no stir, they are self-stable;
With my no intervention, they are self-prosperous;
With my no desire, they are self-genuine."