Returning to Simplicity

Posted on September 4, 2008
Filed Under Awareness, Society |

When serving the public, use upright means.
When commanding troops in war,
employ the principle of surprise.
To win the world, do nothing to interfere with it.
Why? Because the more prohibitions and inhibitions
that are imposed on people,
The more difficult their lives become.
The more destructive weapons a nation or its people possess,
the poorer the people of that country become,
And the greater is the chaos that occurs in the world.
The more clever and crafty people become,
the more often strange things happen.
The more laws and ordinances there are,
the more criminals and dissidents will arise.

Therefore, the ancient sages of integral virtue said:
“I do nothing, and the people’s contention dissolves by itself.
I enjoy serenity, and the people rectify themselves.
I make no effort, and the people enrich themselves.
I have no desire, and the people return to simplicity.”

~Tao te Ching