Tao Te Ching Chapter 3
Original Chinese Text
不尚贤，使民不争；
不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；
不见可欲，使民心不乱。
是以圣人之治：
虚其心，实其腹；
弱其志，强其骨。
常使民无知无欲，
使夫智者不敢为也。
为无为，则无不治。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Bù shàng xián, shǐ mín bù zhēng;
Bù guì nándé zhī huò, shǐ mín bù wéi dào;
Bù xiàn kě yù, shǐ mín xīn bù luàn.
Shì yǐ shèngrén zhī zhì:
Xū qí xīn, shí qí fù;
Ruò qí zhì, qiáng qí gǔ.
Cháng shǐ mín wúzhī wúyù,
Shǐ fú zhì zhě bù gǎn wéi yě.
Wéi wúwéi, zé wú bù zhì.
白话文翻译 (Plain Chinese Translation)
- 不尚贤，使民不争
- 不推崇能人贤士，百姓就不会竞争攀比。
- Do not exalt the worthy, so people will not compete.
- 不贵难得之货，使民不为盗
- 不珍视稀有之物，百姓就不会偷盗。
- Do not value rare goods, so people will not steal.
- 不见可欲，使民心不乱
- 不炫耀诱惑之物，民心就不会迷乱。
- Do not display desirable things, so people’s hearts remain calm.
- 是以圣人之治：虚其心，实其腹；弱其志，强其骨
- 因此圣人治国的方法是：净化人民的心思，填饱他们的肚子；削弱欲望，强健体魄。
- Thus, the Sage governs by: emptying minds, filling bellies; weakening ambitions, strengthening bones.
- 常使民无知无欲，使夫智者不敢为也
- 让人民保持纯朴无欲，使聪明人不敢妄为。
- Keep people simple and desireless, so the clever dare not manipulate.
- 为无为，则无不治
- 以“无为”的方式治理，天下自然太平。
- Practice non-action (wúwéi), and all will be in order.
Key Concepts Explained
- 无为 (wúwéi / Non-action): Governing without interference, aligning with natural harmony.
- 虚其心 (xū qí xīn): Emptying the mind of excessive desires and artificial knowledge.
- 难得之货 (nán dé zhī huò): Material goods that create greed and social strife.
Philosophical Essence
- Anti-Materialism: Rejects societal values that fuel competition (e.g., wealth, status).
- Simplicity: True order arises when people return to basic needs (food, health) over artificial desires.
- Governance by Non-Interference: The Sage avoids imposing rules, trusting the Tao’s natural balance.
“A leader is best when people barely know he exists.”
— Modern paraphrase of Lao Tzu’s ideal ruler.
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