He who has the least scrap of sense, Once he has got started on the great highway has nothing to fear So long as he avoids turnings. For great highways are safe and easy. But men love by-paths. So long as Court is in order They are content to let their fields run to weed And their granaries stand empty. They wear patterns and embroideries, Carry sharp swords, glut themselves with drink and food, Have more possessions than they can use. These are the riotous ways of brigandage; they are not the Highway.

A. Quiconque est quelque peu sage, doit se conformer au grand Principe, en évitant par dessus tout la fastueuse jactance. Mais, à cette voie large, on préfère les sentiers étroits. [Peu d’hommes marchent dans la voie du désintéressement obscur. Ils préfèrent les sentiers, leur vanité, leur avantage. Ainsi font les princes de ce temps.]

B. Quand les palais sont trop bien entretenus, les terres sont incultes et les greniers sont vides, [car les laboureurs sont réquisitionnés pour les corvées].

C. S’habiller magnifiquement, porter à la ceinture une épée tranchante, se gorger de nourriture et de boisson, amasser des richesses à ne plus savoir qu’en faire [comme font les princes de ce temps], c’est là ressembler au brigand [qui jouit avec ostentation de son butin]. Pareille conduite est opposée au Principe.

Si avec la moindre connaissance je marchais sur la grande Voie, je craindrais seulement de m’égarer. Bien que la grande Voie soit très unie, les hommes aiment les sentiers.

Quand la Cour est bien purgée, mais que les champs sont pleins de mauvaises herbes et que les greniers sont entiè¬rement vides ; quand on porte des robes brodées, qu’on se ceint d’épées tranchantes, qu’on se rassasie de mets et qu’on possède un surplus de biens, j’appelle cela pillage et hâblerie.

Pour sûr, c’est contraire à la Voie.

Former un homme qui sait la Voie, c’est suivre la Voie, et la Voie le chérit comme un fils ; le peuple le vénère et l’écoute. Mais vouloir acquérir sans travail, laisser la terre inculte et le corps passionné, ignorer les caractères, rechercher de continuels avantages, boire, manger, chanter, désirer l’augmentation de ses biens, accomplir le mal et le vol, ce n’est pas là la Voie.

Se me fosse confiada uma função governamental, eis o que eu ensinaria:

“Marchai em direção ao Grande Tao e temei apenas vos colocardes em evidência”.

A Grande Via é toda simples, mas o povo prefere as sendas tortuosas.

Quando os palácios estão bem conservados, as terras não são cultivadas e os celeiros estão vazios.

Vestir roupas suntuosas, carregar espadas cortantes, empanturrar-se com comidas e bebidas, acumular riquezas, tudo isso é exaltar o roubo.

Isso não é o Tao, decerto!

O grande Caminho é fácil, no entanto as pessoas preferem os caminhos laterais. Esteja atento quando as coisas estão fora de equilíbrio. Fique centrado dentro do Tao. Quando especuladores ricos prosperam enquanto fazendeiros perdem suas terras; quando governantes gastam dinheiro em armas em lugar de curas; quando a classe alta é extravagante e irresponsável enquanto o pobre não tem lugar para se voltar; isto é roubalheira e caos. Não é manter-se com o Tao.

If I were suddenly to become known, and [put into a position to] conduct [a government] according to the Great Tao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display.

The great Tao [or way] is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways.

Their court[-yards and buildings] shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty. They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth;—such [princes] may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!