65𝍆淳德

道德經 Dao De Jing [Tao Te Ching]

Chapter 65: Pure, Unmixed Excellence

	繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp	Legge's Translation	Susuki's Translation	Goddard's Translation
	淳德	Pure, Unmixed Excellence	The Virtue of Simplicity	The Virtue of Simplicity
1	古之善为道者，非以明民，将以愚之。民之难治，以其智多。故以智治国，国之贼；	The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Dao did so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple and ignorant.	The ancients who were well versed in Reason did not thereby enlighten the people; they intended thereby to make them simple-hearted.	In the olden days those who obeyed the spirit of Dao did not enlighten the people but kept them simple hearted.
2	不以智治国，国之福。知此两者，亦稽式。常知稽式，是谓「玄德」，「玄德」深远；	The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge. He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing. He who knows these two things finds in them also his model and rule. Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call the mysterious excellence (of a governor).	If people are difficult to govern, it is because they are too smart. To govern the country with smartness is the country's curse. To govern the country without smartness is the country's blessing. He who knows these two things is also a model [like the ancients]. Always to know the model is called profound virtue.	The reason people are difficult to govern is because of their smartness; likewise to govern a people with guile is a curse; and to govern them with simplicity is a blessing. He who remembers these two things is a model ruler. Always to follow this standard and rule is de [teh], the profound.
3	与物反矣，然后乃至大顺。	Deep and far-reaching is such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possessor as opposite to others, but leading them to a great conformity to him.	Spiritual virtue, verily, is profound. Verily, it is far-reaching. Verily, it is to everything reverse. But then it will procure great recognition.	Profound de [teh] is deep indeed and far reaching. The very opposite of common things, but by it one obtains obedient subjects.

繁體 Trad ↔ 简体 Simp

Legge's Translation

Susuki's Translation

Goddard's Translation

淳德

Pure, Unmixed Excellence

The Virtue of Simplicity

古之善为道者，非以明民，将以愚之。民之难治，以其智多。故以智治国，国之贼；

The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Dao did so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple and ignorant.

The ancients who were well versed in Reason did not thereby enlighten the people; they intended thereby to make them simple-hearted.

In the olden days those who obeyed the spirit of Dao did not enlighten the people but kept them simple hearted.

不以智治国，国之福。知此两者，亦稽式。常知稽式，是谓「玄德」，「玄德」深远；

The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge. He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing. He who knows these two things finds in them also his model and rule. Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call the mysterious excellence (of a governor).

If people are difficult to govern, it is because they are too smart. To govern the country with smartness is the country's curse. To govern the country without smartness is the country's blessing. He who knows these two things is also a model [like the ancients]. Always to know the model is called profound virtue.

The reason people are difficult to govern is because of their smartness; likewise to govern a people with guile is a curse; and to govern them with simplicity is a blessing. He who remembers these two things is a model ruler. Always to follow this standard and rule is de [teh], the profound.

与物反矣，然后乃至大顺。

Deep and far-reaching is such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possessor as opposite to others, but leading them to a great conformity to him.

Spiritual virtue, verily, is profound. Verily, it is far-reaching. Verily, it is to everything reverse. But then it will procure great recognition.

Profound de [teh] is deep indeed and far reaching. The very opposite of common things, but by it one obtains obedient subjects.