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道 Tâo
Chapter 3

1. Not to value and employ men of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves; not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves; not to show them what is likely to excite their desires is the way to keep their minds from disorder.

2. Therefore the sage, in the exercise of his government, empties their minds, fills their bellies, weakens their wills, and strengthens their bones.

3. He constantly (tries to) keep them without knowledge and without desire, and where there are those who have knowledge, to keep them from presuming to act (on it). When there is this abstinence from action, good order is universal.

三 章

不 上 賢 , 使 民 不 爭 ;
不 貴 難 得 之 貨 , 使 民 不 盜 ;
不 見 可 欲 , 使 心 不 亂 。
聖 人 治 :
虛 其 心 , 實 其 腹 , 弱 其 志 , 強 其 骨 。
常 使 民 無 知 無 欲 ,
使 知 者 不 敢 為 , 則 無 不 治 。

Key Terms

Observations and Comments

Legge Translation Notes

###, 'Keeping the People at Rest.' The object of the chapter is to show that government according to the Tâo is unfavourable to the spread of knowledge among the people, and would keep them rather in the state of primitive simplicity and ignorance, thereby securing their restfulness and universal good order. Such is the uniform teaching of Lâo-dze and his great follower Kwang-dze, and of all Tâoist writers.