19

"Cut off sagacity (sheng) and get rid of wisdom (zhi) And the benefit to the common people will be a hundredfold. Cut off authoritative conduct (ren) and get rid of appropriateness (yi) And the common people will return to filiality (xiao) and parental affection (ci). Cut off cleverness and get rid of personal profit And there will be no more brigands and thieves. But these three sayings as they stand are still lacking And need to be supplemented by the following: Display a genuineness like raw silk and embrace a simplicity like unworked wood, Lessen your concern for yourself and reduce your desires."