Tao Te Ching Chapter 19

 

Banish wisdom, discard knowledge,

And the people shall profit a hundredfold;

Banish 'humanity,' discard 'justice,'

And the people shall recover love of their kin;

Banish cunning, discard 'utility,'

And the thieves and brigands shall disappear.

As these three touch the externals and are inadequate,

The people have need of what they can depend upon:

 

Reveal thy simple self,

Embrace thy original nature,

Check thy selfishness,

Curtail thy desires.