65

"Those in the past who were good at practicing Tao, Did not want to enlighten (ming) the people, But to keep them in ignorance (yü). People are hard to rule, Because they know (chih) too much. Therefore, to rule a nation by knowledge, Is to be the nation's thief. Not to rule a nation by knowledge, Is to be the nation's blessing. To know these two is to know heaven's rule (chi shih). Always knowing heaven's rule, Is called the dark (hsüan) te. The dark te clarifies (ch'ing) and is far away (yüan). It reverts (fan) with things. Then there arrives the great harmony."