Chapter 57 · Governing by Non-Action

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

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The chapter’s first line

A state may be ruled by (measures of) correction;

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This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

A state may be ruled by (measures of) correction; weapons of war may be used with crafty dexterity; (but) the kingdom is made one's own (only) by freedom from action and purpose. How do I know that it is so? By these facts:--In the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people; the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state and clan; the more acts of crafty dexterity that men possess, the more do strange contrivances appear; the more display there is of legislation, the more thieves and robbers there are. Therefore a sage has said, 'I will do nothing (of purpose), and the people will be transformed of themselves; I will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct. I will take no trouble about it, and the people will of themselves become rich; I will manifest no ambition, and the people will of themselves attain to the primitive simplicity.'

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Chapter 57, in a second rendering

Calm Tech for a Country

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

Run a country straight. Fight a war with surprises. But win the world by leaving it alone. How do I know? Look at the pattern. More rules and bans, poorer the people. More weapons around, more the place comes apart. More clever schemes, more weird scams. More laws on the books, more crooks. So the steady hand says: I do nothing and people sort themselves out. I keep still and they straighten up on their own. I stay out of it and they do fine. I want nothing and they go back to plain. It's basically calm tech for a country.

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