Below is the chapter from two excellent sources along with the original Chinese text. The first source is from a translation by D.T. Suzuki & Paul Carus in 1913 followed by a translation by Stephen Mitchell in 1988.
Chapter 19
1. Abandon your saintliness; put away your prudence; and the people will gain a hundredfold!
2. Abandon your benevolence; put away your justice; and the people will return to filial piety and paternal devotion.
3. Abandon smartness; give up greed; and thieves and robbers will no longer exist.
4. These are three things for which culture is insufficient. Therefore it is said:
"Hold fast to that which will endure,
Show thyself simple, preserve thee pure,
And lessen self with desires fewer."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Throw away holiness and wisdom,
and people will be a hundred times happier.
Throw away morality and justice,
and people will do the right thing.
Throw away industry and profit,
and there won't be any thieves.
If these three aren't enough,
just stay at the centre of the circle
and let all things take their course.
2. Abandon your benevolence; put away your justice; and the people will return to filial piety and paternal devotion.
3. Abandon smartness; give up greed; and thieves and robbers will no longer exist.
4. These are three things for which culture is insufficient. Therefore it is said:
"Hold fast to that which will endure,
Show thyself simple, preserve thee pure,
And lessen self with desires fewer."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Throw away holiness and wisdom,
and people will be a hundred times happier.
Throw away morality and justice,
and people will do the right thing.
Throw away industry and profit,
and there won't be any thieves.
If these three aren't enough,
just stay at the centre of the circle
and let all things take their course.
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