Ancient ones who were good at acting Tao, didn’t act (it) to smarten p

淳德 · Chún Dé

Classical Chinese Text

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；不以智治国，国之福。知此两者，亦稽式。常知稽式，是谓玄德。玄德深矣，远矣，与物反矣，然后乃至大顺。

Translation & Meaning

Ancient ones who were good at acting Tao, didn’t act (it) to smarten people, but act (it) to simplify them. People’s difficultness to govern, is because of cleverness (being) much. This is why using cleverness in governing a country, is the country’s misfortune; not using cleverness in governing a country, is the country’s fortune. Knowing these two, (serves as) also a principle. Constantly knowing this principle, is called the grand virtue. The grand virtue is profound, far-reaching, being things’ backflow, then with which leads (them) to the great harmony.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 古 (gǔ): classical character (gǔ)
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 善 (shàn): goodness / skillful / kind
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 非 (fēi): is not / false / not equal to
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 明 (míng): classical character (míng)
  • 民 (mín): classical character (mín)
  • 将 (jiāng): classical character (jiāng)
  • 愚 (yú): classical character (yú)
  • 难 (nán): difficult / arduous
  • 治 (zhì): govern / bring order / rule
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 智 (zhì): classical character (zhì)
  • 多 (duō): classical character (duō)
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 国 (guó): classical character (guó)
  • 贼 (zéi): classical character (zéi)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 福 (fú): classical character (fú)
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 此 (cǐ): classical character (cǐ)
  • 两 (liǎng): two / duality / polarity
  • 亦 (yì): classical character (yì)
  • 稽 (jī): classical character (jī)
  • 式 (shì): classical character (shì)
  • 常 (cháng): constant / dynamic invariable
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 玄 (xuán): mystery / fathomless depth
  • 德 (dé): Intrinsic Virtue / inner power
  • 深 (shēn): classical character (shēn)
  • 矣 (yǐ): [modal particle of realization]
  • 远 (yuǎn): classical character (yuǎn)
  • 与 (yǔ): classical character (yǔ)
  • 物 (wù): things / phenomena / forms
  • 反 (fǎn): classical character (fǎn)
  • 然 (rán): classical character (rán)
  • 后 (hòu): after / behind
  • 乃 (nǎi): classical character (nǎi)
  • 至 (zhì): classical character (zhì)
  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 顺 (shùn): classical character (shùn)