1. if we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom, it would be better for the people a hundredfold. if we could renounce our benevolence and discard our righteousness, the people would again become filial and kindly. if we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers.

2. those three methods (of government)

thought olden ways in elegance did fail

and made these names their want of worth to veil;

but simple views, and courses plain and true

would selfish ends and many lusts eschew.

绝圣弃智，民利百倍；

绝仁弃义，民复孝慈；

绝巧弃利，盗贼无有。

此三者以为文，不足，故令有所属：

见素抱朴，少私寡欲。

【译文】

抛弃贤圣权威及权威成见，人民可以得到更大的好处；抛弃仁、义等道德律则，人民将恢复他们的孝慈本性；抛弃技巧与厚利的助纣与诱引，盗贼将自动消失。

不过，这三项措施作为治标之举，还不足以治本，所以，应把它们作为从属的措施并继之以更为基本的总体原则：表现纯真，持守混沌，减少私心杂欲。