1. when the people do not fear what they ought to fear, that which is their great dread will come on them.

2. let them not thoughtlessly indulge themselves in their ordinary life; let them not act as if weary of what that life depends on.

3. it is by avoiding such indulgence that such weariness does not arise.

4. therefore the sage knows (these things) of himself, but does not parade (his knowledge); loves, but does not (appear to set a) value on, himself. and thus he puts the latter alternative away and makes choice of the former.

民不畏威，则大威至矣。

无狎其所居，无厌其所生。

夫唯不厌，是以不厌。

是以圣人自知不自见，自爱不自贵。

故去彼取此。

【译文】

当人民不再畏惧统治的威压的时候，那么，反于统治者的大威协就临头了。不要逼迫人民不得安居，不要阻塞人民的谋生之路。只有不去阻塞人民，才不会有出之于人民的反阻塞。因此，圣人但求自知，不去自我炫耀；但求自爱，不去自显高贵。所以要有所取舍。