第57章 · 原文
现代白话译文
用清正无为的方法治理国家，用诡奇的方法用兵，用无为的方法来夺取天下。我怎么知道是这样的呢？根据下面这些情况：天下的禁忌越多，百姓越贫穷；民间的利器越多，国家越昏乱；人们的技巧越多，邪恶的事情就越发生；法令越森严，盗贼反而越多。所以圣人说：我无为，百姓自然感化；我好静，百姓自然端正；我无事，百姓自然富足；我无欲，百姓自然淳朴。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
Govern the state by being straightforward; Wage war by being crafty; But win the empire by not being meddlesome. How do I know that it is like that? By means of this. The more taboos there are in the empire The poorer the people; The more sharpened tools the people have The more benighted the state; The more skills the people have The further novelties multiply; The better known the laws and edicts The more thieves and robbers there will be. Hence the sage says, I take no action and the people are transformed of themselves; I prefer stillness and the people are rectified of themselves; I am not meddlesome and the people prosper of themselves; I am free from desire and the people of themselves become simple like the uncarved block.
Robert Henricks
1. Use the upright and correct to order the state; 2. Use surprise tactics when you use troops; 3. Use unconcern with affairs to take control of the world. 4. How do I know that this is so? 5. Well, the more taboos and prohibitions there are in the world, the poorer the people will be; 6. The more sharp weapons the people possess, the more muddled the states will be; 7. The more knowledge and skill people have, the more novel things will appear; 8. The more legal matters are made prominent, the more robbers and thieves there will be. 9. Therefore, the words of the Sage say: 10. I do nothing, and the people of themselves are transformed; 11. I love tranquility, and the people of themselves are upright; 12. I'm unconcerned with affairs, and the people of themselves become rich. 13. I desire not to desire, and the people of themselves are [genuine and simple, like] uncarved wood.
Addiss & Lombardo
Rule the state with correctness, operate the military with surprise. Take the world with non-action. How do I know this is so? Through this: The more prohibitions and taboos, the poorer the people. The more sharp weapons, the more chaotic the state. The more skills, the more strange things arise. The more laws and regulations, the more thieves and robbers. Therefore the sage says: I act without acting, and the people transform themselves. I love stillness, and the people correct themselves. I do not work, and the people enrich themselves. I have no desire, and the people return to simplicity.
Arthur Waley
"Kingdoms can only be governed if rules are kept; Battles can only be won if rules are broken." But the adherence of all under heaven can only be won by letting-alone. How do I know that it is so? By this. The more prohibitions there are, the more ritual avoidances, The poorer the people will be. The more "sharp weapons" there are, The more benighted will the whole land grow. The more cunning craftsmen there are, The more pernicious contrivances will be invented. The more laws are promulgated, The more thieves and bandits there will be. Therefore a sage has said: So long as I "do nothing" the people will of themselves be transformed. So long as I love quietude, the people will of themselves go straight. So long as I act only by inactivity the people will of themselves become prosperous. So long as I have no wants The people will of themselves return to the "state of the Uncarved Block".
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
If you want to be a great leader, you must learn to follow the Tao. Stop trying to control. Let go of fixed plans and concepts, and the world will govern itself. The more prohibitions you have, the less virtuous people will be. The more weapons you have, the less secure people will be. The more subsidies you have, the less self-reliant people will be. Therefore the Master says: I let go of the law, and people become honest. I let go of economics, and people become prosperous. I let go of religion, and people become serene. I let go of all desire for the common good, and the good becomes common as grass.