Chapter 18
IndexAbandon sagehood and discard wisdom, and the people will benefit a hundredfold. Abandon benevolence and discard righteousness, and the people will return to filial piety and compassion. Abandon skill and discard profit, and thieves and robbers will disappear.
These three are considered insufficient as principles.
Therefore, command them to adhere to this: Perceive the unadorned, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, diminish desires.