Tao Te Ching Chapter 65: Governing Through Simplicity
Original 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。
Pinyin (Pronunciation)
Gǔ zhī shàn wéi dào zhě, fēi yǐ míng mín, jiāng yǐ yú zhī.
Mín zhī nán zhì, yǐ qí zhì duō.
Gù yǐ zhì zhì guó, guó zhī zéi;
Bù yǐ zhì zhì guó, guó zhī fú.
Zhī cǐ liǎng zhě yì jī shì.
Cháng zhī jī shì, shì wèi xuán dé.
Xuán dé shēn yǐ, yuǎn yǐ, yǔ wù fǎn yǐ,
Ránhòu nǎi zhì dà shùn.
Structured Translation & Interpretation
Core Teachings
| Concept | Translation | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| 非以明民 | “Not enlightening people” | Avoiding over-complication |
| 将以愚之 | “Returning them to simplicity” | Cultivating natural wisdom |
| 智多难治 | “Too much cunning makes governance hard” | Artificial complexity harms society |
| 以智治国 | “Governing with cleverness” | Destructive manipulation |
| 玄德 | “Mysterious Virtue” | Leadership through humility |
| 大顺 | “Great Harmony” | Ultimate societal balance |
Plain English Paraphrase
- Ancient Wisdom
- “The best rulers don’t fill minds with concepts, but preserve natural simplicity”
- The Paradox of Intelligence
- “When people become too clever, society becomes ungovernable”
- “Statecraft through schemes destroys; through simplicity blesses”
- The Path of Mysterious Virtue
- “This counterintuitive truth is the deepest wisdom”
- “It reverses conventional thinking to achieve perfect order”
Key Philosophical Terms
| Chinese | Literal Meaning | True Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 愚之 | “Make them foolish” | Return to childlike authenticity |
| 稽式 | “Standard model” | Cosmic principle of governance |
| 与物反矣 | “Opposite to things” | Transcends ordinary logic |
Modern Applications
For Leadership
- “The more laws you create, the more criminals you produce” (智多难治) → Legal system reform
For Education
- “Modern education often replaces wisdom with information” → Montessori/alternative schooling
For Technology
- “AI complexity vs. human simplicity” → Steve Jobs’ minimalism
“Like an old farmer—he doesn’t lecture crops on growth, but provides soil and sun.”
— Metaphor for 玄德 leadership