Leverage righteousness to govern (a) country, leverage deceit to use m

淳風 · Chún Fēng

Classical Chinese Text

以正治国，以奇用兵，以无事取天下。吾何以知其然哉？以此：天下多忌讳，而民弥贫；人多利器，国家滋昏；人多伎巧，奇物滋起；法令滋彰，盗贼多有。
故圣人云："我无为，而民自化；我好静，而民自正；我无事，而民自富；我无欲，而民自朴。"

Translation & Meaning

Leverage righteousness to govern (a) country, leverage deceit to use military, leverage uneventfulness to seize all that is under heaven. How do I know it so? Because: the more taboos in all that is under heaven, the poorer people become; the more sharp weapons people own, the more chaotic a country becomes; the more artful people are, the odder things become; the more decrees issued, the many thieves appear.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 正 (zhèng): classical character (zhèng)
  • 治 (zhì): govern / bring order / rule
  • 国 (guó): classical character (guó)
  • 奇 (qí): classical character (qí)
  • 用 (yòng): use / function / apply
  • 兵 (bīng): classical character (bīng)
  • 无 (wú): formless void / non-being / without
  • 事 (shì): affairs / deeds
  • 取 (qǔ): classical character (qǔ)
  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 吾 (wú): I / myself
  • 何 (hé): classical character (hé)
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 然 (rán): classical character (rán)
  • 哉 (zāi): classical character (zāi)
  • 此 (cǐ): classical character (cǐ)
  • 多 (duō): classical character (duō)
  • 忌 (jì): classical character (jì)
  • 讳 (huì): classical character (huì)
  • 而 (ér): yet / and / but
  • 民 (mín): classical character (mín)
  • 弥 (mí): classical character (mí)
  • 贫 (pín): classical character (pín)
  • 人 (rén): person / human
  • 利 (lì): benefits / nourishes
  • 器 (qì): classical character (qì)
  • 家 (jiā): classical character (jiā)
  • 滋 (zī): classical character (zī)
  • 昏 (hūn): classical character (hūn)
  • 伎 (jì): classical character (jì)
  • 巧 (qiǎo): classical character (qiǎo)
  • 物 (wù): things / phenomena / forms
  • 起 (qǐ): classical character (qǐ)
  • 法 (fǎ): classical character (fǎ)
  • 令 (lìng): classical character (lìng)
  • 彰 (zhāng): classical character (zhāng)
  • 盗 (dào): steal / thieves / plunder
  • 贼 (zéi): classical character (zéi)
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 圣 (shèng): sage / enlightened one
  • 云 (yún): classical character (yún)
  • 我 (wǒ): classical character (wǒ)
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 自 (zì): classical character (zì)
  • 化 (huà): classical character (huà)
  • 好 (hǎo): classical character (hǎo)
  • 静 (jìng): classical character (jìng)
  • 富 (fù): classical character (fù)
  • 欲 (yù): intent / desire / craving
  • 朴 (pǔ): classical character (pǔ)