第65章 · 原文
现代白话译文
古代善于为道的人，不是教人民精巧，而是使人民淳朴。人民所以难治理，是因为他们有太多的智巧心机。所以用智巧治理国家，是国家的灾害；不用智巧治理国家，是国家的福气。要知道这两种方式也是法则。常守这个法则，就叫作玄德。玄德深啊，远啊，与万物返璞归真，然后达到极大的和顺。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
Of old those who excelled in the pursuit of the way did not use it to enlighten the people but to hoodwink them. The reason why the people are difficult to govern is that they are too clever. Hence to rule a state by cleverness Will be to the detriment of the state; Not to rule a state by cleverness Will be a boon to the state. These two are models. Always to know the models Is known as mysterious virtue. Mysterious virtue is profound and far-reaching, But when things turn back it turns back with them. Only then is complete conformity realized.
Robert Henricks
1. Those who practiced the Way in antiquity, 2. Did not use it to enlighten the people. 3. Rather, they used it to make them dumb. 4. Now the reason why people are difficult to rule is because of their knowledge; 5. As a result, to use knowledge to rule the state 6. Is thievery of the state; 7. To use ignorance to rule the state 8. Is kindness to the state. 9. One who constantly understands these two, 10. Also [understands] the principle. 11. To constantly understand the principle — 12. This is called Profound Virtue. 13. Profound Virtue is deep, is far-reaching, 14. And together with things it returns. 15. Thus we arrive at the Great Accord.
Addiss & Lombardo
The ancients who practiced the way did not use it to enlighten the people but to keep them simple. The reason people are difficult to govern is because they are too clever. To govern a state with cleverness harms the state. Not to govern a state with cleverness benefits the state. These two are standards. Always knowing this standard is called mysterious virtue. Mysterious virtue is deep, far-reaching, and opposite of things, and thus reaches agreement.
Arthur Waley
In the days of old those who practiced Tao with success did not, By means of it, Enlighten the people, but on the contrary sought to make them ignorant. The more knowledge people have, the harder they are to rule. Those who seek to rule by giving knowledge Are like bandits preying on the land. Those who rule without giving knowledge Bring a stock of good fortune to the land. To have understood the difference between these who things Is to have a test and standard To be always able to apply this test and standard Is called the mysterious "power", so deep-penetrating, So far-reaching, That can follow things back — All the way back to the Great Concordance.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
The ancient Masters didn't try to educate the people, but kindly taught them to not-know. When they think that they know the answers, people are difficult to guide. When they know that they don't know, people can find their own way. If you want to learn how to govern, avoid being clever or rich. The simplest pattern is the clearest. Content with an ordinary life, you can show all people the way back to their own true nature.