1. a state may be ruled by (measures of) correction; weapons of war may be used with crafty dexterity; (but) the kingdom is made one's own (only) by freedom from action and purpose.

2. how do i know that it is so? by these facts:--in the kingdom the multiplication of prohibitive enactments increases the poverty of the people; the more implements to add to their profit that the people have, the greater disorder is there in the state and clan; the more acts of crafty dexterity that men possess, the more do strange contrivances appear; the more display there is of legislation, the more thieves and robbers there are.

3. therefore a sage has said, 'i will do nothing (of purpose), and the people will be transformed of themselves; i will be fond of keeping still, and the people will of themselves become correct. i will take no trouble about it, and the people will of themselves become rich; i will manifest no ambition, and the people will of themselves attain to the primitive simplicity.'

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；

民多利器，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。

【译文】

以清静无为之常道治国，只针对出格的反常事态动用兵力，通常则以 无所事事而执掌天下。我怎么知道应该这样呢？根据在于：

天下越是多忌讳，人民就越是贫穷；民间的武器越多，国家就越是陷于昏乱；人们的技能越巧，反常之事物就日益纷繁；法令越森严，盗贼反倒更多。所以，圣人说：我无为，人民就自然顺化；我好静，人民就自然端正；我无事，人民就自然富足；我无欲，人民就自然淳朴。