Original Text
Those who pursue knowledge increase daily; those who pursue the Way decrease daily, reducing and reducing until they reach non-action. When non-action is achieved, nothing is left undone. Those who govern the world should take quietude and non-interference as the foundation; if they constantly burden the people with harsh policies, they are unfit to govern.
Guide
The pursuit of knowledge and the pursuit of the Way are different; those who seek the Way should reduce subjective delusions, maintain emptiness and simplicity, and attain the state of effortless action where nothing is left undone. The same principle applies to governing the world; if one acts arbitrarily and recklessly, they are unworthy of ruling.Analysis
This chapter continues from the previous one, still discussing the application of the Tao from both cognitive and practical perspectives, namely "non-action." Learning is about "daily increase," growing day by day; while practicing the Tao is about "daily decrease," gradually eliminating one's subjective delusions and fantasies to approach the natural law of the Tao. When one reduces subjectivity to the point of "nothingness," they align with the Tao. Once aligned with the Tao, any endeavor—including conquering the world—can succeed. This is "doing nothing yet nothing is left undone."
"In the pursuit of learning, one increases daily; in the pursuit of the Way, one decreases daily. Decrease and decrease again, until one reaches non-action." In this sentence, Laozi mainly elaborates on the difference between learning and following the Way. He points out that learning means persistently exploring new knowledge from the outside world; knowledge is infinite, having neither beginning nor end, so our exploration of knowledge never ends. Zhuangzi also said, "My life has limits, but knowledge has no limits," meaning life is finite while knowledge is infinite; one should devote the finite life to the pursuit of infinite knowledge. Thus, even using a lifetime to learn, one cannot exhaust all worldly knowledge. Nevertheless, we must "live and learn," because throughout life, people continuously understand the universe and human society, and knowledge brings understanding closer to truth, so we must persistently learn. However, knowledge is infinite, like sailing in the boundless universe, never reaching truth, only sighing in awe. Laozi clearly recognized this, so he wisely turned from external pursuit to internal cultivation.
Cultivating the Way requires us to constantly remove distracting thoughts from our minds and maintain an ordinary mind, which is the Way itself. If people continuously discard distracting thoughts during their cultivation, gradually eliminating selfish desires, they can ultimately reach the state of non-action. As mentioned earlier, non-action does not mean true idleness, but rather refraining from arbitrary action. Refraining from arbitrary action aligns with the virtue of the Way; if one can act in accordance with natural laws in everything, then refraining from arbitrary action becomes the ability to accomplish everything.
"Do nothing and nothing will be left undone." This idea runs through Laozi's Tao Te Ching from beginning to end, serving as a profoundly wise proposition he put forward. Although many ancient Chinese scholars also advocated for "non-action," only Laozi truly took this concept to its extreme. He demonstrated the social significance of "non-action" from a philosophical perspective. On the surface, "non-action" appears passive and regressive; but in essence, it involves avoiding contradictions in the process of development and change, allowing things to proceed smoothly, thereby reaching a state free from desire and limitation.
"Taking the world often comes through non-action; when there is much action, it is insufficient to take the world." "Take" means to understand and grasp. At the end of this chapter, Laozi points out that in governing a country, one should always maintain an attitude of quiet non-action. If governance measures are too numerous, they are insufficient to govern the world.