Chapter 57
Govern the state with upright principles, command armies with unconventional strategies, and win the world through non-interference. How do I know this is true? Observe reality:
• When society imposes excessive taboos, the people grow poorer;
• When lethal weapons proliferate among civilians, the nation descends into chaos;
• When people obsess over cunning tricks and exotic devices, strange phenomena multiply;
• The more elaborate the laws, the more thieves and rebels emerge.
Thus the sage declares:
"When I refrain from forceful intervention, the people naturally cultivate virtue;
When I maintain tranquility, the people naturally align with righteousness;
When I avoid meddling in livelihoods, the people naturally prosper;
When I restrain my desires, the people naturally return to simplicity."
(Note: From Chapter 57 of the Tao Te Ching, this passage epitomizes the Daoist doctrine of "governing through non-action" (无为而治). It advocates that rulers minimize control, curb cravings, and guide society toward natural harmony through inner cultivation.)
Cultural Lexicon Preservation
- Retained "sage" rather than "wise person" to maintain textual authority
- Translated "无为" as "non-action" with Chinese term in parentheses for academic precision
Structural Parallelism
Maintained the original quadripartite structure using semicolons and parallel verbs ("refrain... maintain... avoid... restrain") to mirror Laozi's rhetorical style.
Dynamic Equivalence
- "以奇用兵" → "unconventional strategies" (military context requires tactical nuance)
- "伎巧奇物" → "cunning tricks and exotic devices" (captures both ingenuity and decadence)
Conceptual Clarification
Added "governing through non-action" in the note to contextualize 无为而治 for Western readers unfamiliar with Wu Wei philosophy.
This rendering balances literary flow with philosophical fidelity, suitable for both scholarly discussion and general readership.
