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"Govern a state by (i) the normal (cheng); Conduct warfare as (i) the abnormal (ch'i); Take the empire when (i) there is no business. How do I know such should be the case? By the following: In an empire with many prohibitions, People are often poor; When people have many sharp weapons, The state is in great darkness (tzu hun); When persons abound in ingenuity (ch'iao), Abnormal (ch'i) objects multiply (tzu ch'i); When laws are abundantly promulgated (tzu chang), There are many thieves and brigands. Therefore the sage says: I do not act (wei), Hence the people transform by themselves (tzu-hua); I love tranquillity (ching), Hence the people are normal by themselves (tzu-cheng); I have no business, Hence the people grow rich by themselves; I have no desire, Hence the people are like the uncarved wood by themselves (tzu-p'u)."