愛民治國，能無知乎(1)
愛民治國，能無知乎
Can you love the people and govern the state
without personal knowledge?
兵強則滅，木強則折(3)
兵強則滅，木強則折
An army will be shattered when it becomes strong；
trees will snap when they grow strong．
不出戶，知天下(5)
不出戶，知天下
Without going out of the door,
one can know all things under Heaven．
不尚賢，使民不爭(7)
不尚賢，使民不爭
Refrain from exalting capable men，
so that the people shall not compete．
不自見，故明(9)
不自見，故明
He does not merely rely on his own eyes，
therefore he is wise and Denetrating．
持而盈之，不如其已(11)
持而盈之，不如其已
To hold and fill is not as good as to give up．
寵辱若驚(13)
寵辱若驚
People love vanity so much as to be easily alarmed．
大道廢，有仁義(15)
大道廢，有仁義
It is when the Great Way is abandoned that
the doctrine of benevolence and righteousness arises．
大道甚夷，而民好徑(17)
大道甚夷，而民好徑
The highway is very even，
but men are fond of the short cut．
大方無隅，大器晚成(19)
大方無隅，大器晚成
The greatest square has no corners；
the greatest vessel takes the longest to finish．．．
大巧若拙，大辯若訥(21)
大巧若拙’大辯若訥
The greatest skill seems to be clumsy．
The greatest eloquence seems to stammer．
道常無為而無不為(23)
道常無為而無不為
The Tao invariably does nothing，
and yet there is nothing left undone．
道可道，非常道(25)
道可道，非常道
The Tao that can be spoken of
is not the eternal Tao．
道生一，一生二，二生三，三生萬物(27)
道生一，一生二，二生三，三生萬物
The Tao gives birth to the unified thing (One)，
the One split itself into two opposite aspects (Two)，
the Two gives birth to another (Three)，the newborn
Three produces the myriad things．
道生之，德畜之(29)
道生之，德畜之
The Tao begets all beings，and De fosters them．
道者，萬物之奧(31)
道者，萬物之奧
The Tao governs all things．
反者道之動(33)
反者道之動
Constant reversal is the movement of the Tao．．．
夫輕諾必寡信(35)
夫輕諾必寡信
Light promising makes one lose one’s credibility．
甘其食，美其服(37)
甘其食，美其服
Let the people be contented with their food，
pleased with their clothing．．．
穀神不死，是謂玄牝(39)
穀神不死，是謂玄牝
The Valley Spirit never dies．
It is named the Mysterious Female．
故常無欲，以觀其妙(41)
故常無欲，以觀其妙
Therefore，he who rids himself forever
of desire can see the subtleties of the Tao．
貴以身為天下，若可寄天下(43)
貴以身為天下，若可寄天下
Only those who value themselves
for the world can undertake its important tasks．
合抱之木，生於毫末(45)
合抱之木，生於毫末
A huge tree which fills one's arms grows
from a small heap of earth．
惚兮恍兮，其中有象(47)
惚兮恍兮，其中有象
So vague and elusive is it，yet in it the form exists．
禍莫大於不知足(49)
禍莫大於不知足
There is no calamity greater than discontentment．
禍莫大於輕敵(57)
禍莫大於輕敵
There is no disaster greater than
underestimating the enemy．
禍兮，福之所倚(53)
禍兮，福之所倚
It is upon bad fortune that good fortune leans．
見素抱樸’少私寡欲(55)
見素抱樸’少私寡欲
Manifest plainness，embrace simplicity,
reduce selfishness and harbor few desires．
江海所以能為百谷王者(57)
江海所以能為百谷王者
The rivers and seas can become the leaders of many
streams precisely because they stay in the lower valleys．
將欲歙之，必固張之(59)
將欲歙之，必固張之
What is in the end to be contracted．
must first be expanded．
金玉滿堂，莫之能守(61)
金玉滿堂，莫之能守
If your hall is filled with gold and jade，
whoever could keep them safe?
居善地，心善淵(63)
居善地，心善淵
He is at ease with lowness in his dwelling．
絕聖棄智，民利百倍(65)
絕聖棄智，民利百倍
Banish wisdom and discard knowledge，
and the people will benefit a hundredfold．
抗兵相加，哀者勝矣(67)
抗兵相加，哀者勝矣
If the forces of two sides are in balance，
the side in grief will win．
孔德之容，惟道是從(69)
孔德之容，惟道是從
The content of great De is in conformity with the Tao．
民不畏死，奈何以死懼之(71)
民不畏死，奈何以死懼之
Since the people do not fear death，
what is the point of trying to frighten them with death．
民之從事，常於幾成而敗之(73)
民之從事，常于幾成而敗之
People often fail when they are
about to succeed in their work．
民之難治，以其上之有為(75)
民之難治，以其上之有為
The people are difficult to rule because
the rulers are fond of taking action．
民之饑，以其上食稅之多(77)
民之饑，以其上食稅之多
The people suffer from famine because
the rulers gobble up too much tax grain．
曲則全，枉則直(79)
曲則全，枉則直
To yield is yet to be preserved wholly；
to be bent is yet to become straight．
取天下常以無事(81)
取天下常以無事
To govern all under Heaven one usually
should not take any arbitrary action．
人法地，地法天(83)
人法地，地法天
Man follows the way of Earth，
Earth follows the way of Heaven．．．
弱之勝強，柔之勝剛(85)
弱之勝強’柔之勝剛
The reason why the weak can overcome the strong and
the soft can overcome the hard is known to all the people
under Heaven．
善人者不善人之師(87)
善人者不善人之師
The good man is the teacher of the bad，and the bad man
is the material from which the aood man learns．
善為士者不武(89)
善為士者不武
He who is good at being an officer
does not boast of his martial prowess．
善行，無轍跡(91)
善行，無轍跡
One who is skilled at traveling
leaves no trace of his wheels or footsteps．
善有果而已，不敢以取強(93)
善有果而已，不敢以取強
Content yourself with your success，and stop；
do not seek to dominate all under Heaven by force．
善者不辯，辯者不善(95)
善者不辯，辯者不善
A good man does not prove things by argument；
he who proves things by argument is not good．
上善若水(97)
上善若水
The highest good is like water．
上士聞道，動而行之(99)
上士聞道，勤而行之
When the man of highest competency
hears of the Tao，he diligently practices it．
生而不有，為而不恃(101)
生而不有，為而不恃
To give birth to all things
but not to take possession of them．．．
聖人處無為之事，行不言之教(103)
聖人處無為之事，行不言之教
The sage manages affairs by“non-action，”
and teaches by“saying nothing”．
聖人無常心，以百姓心為心(105)
聖人無常心，以百姓心為心
The sage has no fixed personal will；
he regards the people’s will as his own．
聖人自知不自見(107)
聖人自知不自見
The sage knows himself,
but does not show himself．
師之所處，荊棘生焉(109)
師之所處，荊棘生焉
Wherever armies are stationed，
briers and thorns grow wild．
受國之垢，是謂社稷主(111)
受國之垢，是謂社稷主
He who bears the humiliation of the whole state
can be the lord of the country．
太上，不知有之(113)
太上，不知有之
The best rulers are those about whom
the people know nothing but their existence．
天長地久(115)
天長地久
Heaven is eternal and Earth everlasting．
天得一以清，地得一以寧(117)
天得一以清，地得一以寧
Heaven attained the Tao，and became clear．
Earth attained the Tao，and became tranquil．
天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗(119)
天地不仁，以萬物為芻狗
Heaven and Earth are ruthless，
letting all things emerge or perish of themselves．
天地相合，以降甘露(121)
天地相合，以降甘露
Yin and Yang between Heaven and Earth
unite to drip sweet dew．
天綱恢恢，疏而不失(123)
天網恢恢，疏而不失
The net of Heaven is vast．It has large meshes，
but it lets nothing escape．
天下難事必作於易(125)
天下難事必作于易
Everything difficult under Heaven
must be dealt with while it is still easy．
天下莫柔弱於水，而攻堅強者莫之能勝(127)
天下莫柔弱于水，而攻堅強者莫之能勝
Nothing under Heaven is softer and weaker than water,
but in attacking the hard and strong，no force can compare
with it．．．
天下皆知美之為美(129)
天下皆知美之為美
When all people under Heaven acknowledge
the beautiful as beauty．．．
天下之至柔(131)
天下之至柔
The softest thing under Heaven is able
to run in and out of the hardest．
天之道，利而不害(133)
天之道，利而不害
The Way of Heaven is beneficial to all things，
and not harmful．
為學日益，為道日損(135)
為學曰益，為道曰損
The pursuit of learning may lead to the increase of desires
day after day．The pursuit of the Tao is aimed at decreasing
desires day after day．
為之於未有，治之於未亂(137)
為之於未有，治之於未亂
Deal with things before they happen，and get things
in order before the onset of their disorder．
我無為而民自化(139)
我無為而民自化
The sage said：“I do nothing，
and the people of themselves submit．．．”
無名，天地之始(141)
無名，天地之始
The nameless is the origin of Heaven and Earth．
物壯則老，是謂不道(143)
物壯則老，是謂不道
Things must grow old after reaching their prime，
which is contrary to the Tao．
希言自然(145)
希言自然
Saying few words fits in with Nature．
小國寡民(147)
小國寡民
Given a small country with few inhabitants．
信言不美，美言不信(149)
信言不美，美言不信
Sincere words are not fine，
and fine words are not sincere．
以道佐人主者，不以兵強於天下(151)
以道佐人主者，不以兵強於天下
He who assists the ruler with the Tao
does not dominate all under Heaven by force．
以身觀身，以家觀家(153)
以身觀身，以家觀家
Know a person in the perspective of a person，
know a family in the perspective of a family．
以正治國，以奇用兵(155)
以正治國，以奇用兵
A state should be governed in a normal way，
a war should be prosecuted in an unusual way．
用兵有言：吾不敢為主而為客(157)
用兵有言：吾不敢為主而為客
A master of the art of war says，“I dare not
take the offensive，but prefer to take the defensive．．．”
有國之母，可以長久(159)
有國之母，可以長久
Having the foundation of government，
one can maintain sovereignty for a very long time．
有物混成，先天地生(161)
有物混成，先天地生
There was something formless yet complete
that existed before Heaven and Earth．
有無相生，難易相成(163)
有無相生，難易相成
By opposing each other, existence and
nonexistence come into being．
魚不可脫於淵(165)
魚不可脫於淵
Fish cannot be taken away from deep water．
躁勝寒，靜勝熱(167)
躁勝寒，靜勝熱
Rapid walking overcomes cold，
and staying quiet overcomes heat．
執大象，天下往(169)
執大象，天下往
Whoever holds fast to the great image will become that
one to whom all people under Heaven will come．
知常容，容乃公(171)
知常容，容乃公
Only by knowing the eternal can one embrace all；
only by embracing all can one be impartial；being impartial．．．
知其白，守其黑(173)
知其白，守其黑
He who knows the white but keeps to the black
is ready to be the model of all under Heaven．
知其榮，守其辱(175)
知其榮，守其辱
He who knows glory but keeps to disgrace．．．
知其雄，守其雌(177)
知其雄，守其雌
He who knows the masculine but
keeps to the feminine．．．
知人者智，自知者明(179)
知人者智，自知者明
He who knows others is wise；
he who knows himself is enlightened．
知我者希，則我者貴(181)
知我者希，則我者貴
Those who are able to understand me arc very few, and
those who are able to follow me are very hard to meet．
知者不博，博者不知(183)
知者不博，博者不知
He who knows does not show off his learning，and
he who shows off his learning does not know．
知者不言，言者不知(185)
知者不言，言者不知
He who knows does not speak，
and he who speaks does not know．
知足不辱，知止不殆(187)
知足不辱，知止不殆
Whoever is contented will meet no disgrace，and whoever
knows when and where to stop will meet no danger．
知足者富，強行者有志(189)
知足者富，強行者有志
He who is content is rich；
he who acts with persistence has will．．．
治大國若烹小鮮(191)
治大國若烹小鮮
Governing a great state is like frying small fish
(so frequent disturbance should be avoided)．
治人事天莫如嗇(193)
治人事天莫如嗇
For the rule of the people and the service of Heaven，
there is nothing better than the principle of inaction．
致虛極，守靜篤(195)
致虛極，守靜篤
Try to the utmost to make the heart vacant，
and be sure to hold fast to quietude．
重為輕根，靜為躁君(197)
重為輕根，靜為躁君
The heavy is the root of the light，
and the tranquil is the master of the active．
自見者不明，自是者不彰(199)
自見者不明，自是者不彰
He who only relies on his own eyes cannot see clearly；
he who considers himself always in the right cannot tell
right from wrong．
 

老子，姓李名耳，字聃，一說字伯陽。春秋末楚國人。古時有老氏而無李氏，故李耳即老耳。老子出世充滿傳奇色彩，不可詳考。
老子初為周守藏室之史時，也曾「著書言治亂之事，以幹世主」，史載孔子曾適周，問禮於他，孔子稱他是「乘風雲而上天」的龍。後見周室衰微，辭官西去。「至關，關令尹喜曰：『子將隱矣，強為我著書。』於是老子乃修書上下篇，言道德之意五千餘言而去，莫知其所終。」
老子王張「無為」，名言曰：「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。」「是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教。」「治大國若烹小鮮。」「以正治國，以奇用兵，以無事取天下。」
老子，姓李名耳，字聃，一說字伯陽。春秋末楚國人。古時有老氏而無李氏，故李耳即老耳。老子出世充滿傳奇色彩，不可詳考。
老子初為周守藏室之史時，也曾“著書言治亂之事，以幹世主”，史載孔子曾適周，問禮於他，孔子稱他是“乘風雲而上天”的龍。後見周室衰微，辭官西去。“至關，關令尹喜曰：‘子將隱矣，強為我著書。’於是老子乃修書上下篇，言道德之意五千餘言而去，莫知其所終。”
老子主張“無為”，名言曰：“我無為而民白化，我好靜而民自正，我無事而民自富，我無欲而民自樸。”“是以聖人處無為之事，行不言之教。”“治大國若烹小鮮。”“以正治國，以奇用兵，以無事取天下。”
Preface
Lao Zi's name was Li Er, with the courtesy name Dan (some say Boyang). He was a native of the State of Chu in the later years of Spring and Autumn Period. In ancient times, there was the surname Lao while no Li, and thereby Li Er was Lao Er. The birth of Li Er was legendary and textual details could not be found.
When Lao Zi worked as an archivist in the Imperial Library of the Zhou Dynasty court, he "wrote books on how to deal with state disorder, so as to serve the ruler." Historical documents record that Confucius once went to the State of Zhou and discussed ritual and propriety with Lao Zi. Confucius called him "a dragon roaring to the heaven by wind and cloud." Later as the authority of Zhou's court was diminishing, Lao Zi resigned from his post and went westward. "When he reached a pass, the director said with joy, 'Since you are going to live in seclusion, would you write a book for me?' And then Lao Zi compiled a book of two volumes with more than 5,000 Chinese words expounding on Tao, and left with nobody knowing his whereabouts."
Lao Zi favored "non-action" and that "Non-action, and yet there is nothing that is not done by it." His famous sentences include: "I do nothing, and the people of themselves submit. I am fond of keeping still, and the people of themselves act righteously. I take no trouble, and the people enrich themselves. I have no desires, and the people naturally remain in primitive simplicity." "The sage manages affairs by non-action, and teaches by saying nothing." "Governing a great state is like frying small fish (so frequent disturbance should be avoided)." "A state should be governed in a normal way, a war should be prosecuted in an unusual way, and a kingdom should be controlled by doing nothing."
 

愛民治國，能無知乎?《老子》第10章
[譚文]
愛民治理國家，能夠不用智慧嗎?
[注釋]
老子主張「無為」，所以他以「無以為」和「有以為」來分別上德和下德。在38章中說：「上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以無德。上德無為而無以為；下德為之而有以為。」無為則無以為，有為則有以為。無以為則順其自然，而德全，表雖不德，實則全德，故謂有德。有以為則顯其所長，難免一偏，表雖不失德，實則其德不全，故謂無德。
無知：知，通「智」，智慧的意思。
愛民治國，能無知乎?《老子》第10章
[譯文]
愛民治理國家，能夠不用智慧嗎?
[注釋]
老子主張“無為”，所以他以“無以為”和“有以為”來分別上德和下德。在38章中說：“上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以無德。上德無為而無以為：下德為之而有以為。”無為則無以為，有為則有以為。無以為則順其自然，而德全，表雖不德，實則全德，故謂有德。有以為則顯其所長，難免一偏，表雖不失德，實則其德不全，故謂無德。
無知：知，通“智”，智慧的意思。