Original Text
In ancient times, those who skillfully followed the Way did not teach people cunning and deceit, but rather guided them toward simplicity and sincerity. The reason people are difficult to govern is that they use too much cleverness and scheming. Therefore, governing a state with cleverness and scheming inevitably harms the state and brings disaster; governing without such cunning is the state's blessing. Understanding the difference between these two approaches is a principle, and constantly recognizing this principle is called profound virtue. Profound virtue is deep beyond measure, far beyond reach, returning together with all things to the true simplicity of the Way, and only then can one fully accord with nature.
Guide
A ruler must not teach the people cunning and artifice, but instead guide them back to simplicity. Governing with cleverness will surely harm the state, while simplicity and sincerity are the nation's blessing. Thus Laozi advocates "making them simple," so that the people may be without knowledge and without desire.Analysis
In this chapter, Laozi proposes governing with the Tao rather than with cleverness. Human intelligence is like a double-edged sword; if used without a foundation of virtue, it becomes a great calamity for the world.
"In ancient times, those who excelled in practicing the Way did not use it to enlighten the people but to make them simple." In Laozi's view, the reason people are difficult to govern is due to poor governance by rulers. So how should rulers pacify the people? Laozi points out that they should "make them simple," where "simple" means pure and honest. Once the people's hearts are simple, they will not stir up trouble or act recklessly, and thus the world will naturally be at peace. In common opinion, a person who can gain benefits and realize personal value in their natural and social environment is considered clever; otherwise, they are foolish. Laozi's view is completely opposite. He believes that if a person only acts from self-interest and defines life's meaning solely as pursuing personal gain and realizing individual value, they set themselves against the entire world, inevitably causing conflict and confrontation. Such overestimation of one's abilities is utterly foolish. So what counts as a clever person? A clever person realizes that everyone is born and nurtured by the world, and the world is the source of human existence. Thus, they integrate themselves with all humanity and the entire world, actively engaging in the affairs of human society and the natural world, submitting to the will of all humanity and nature. In Laozi's view, the entire world is a product of virtue, so only those who embrace the world align with the essence of the world and the Way. Only such people are truly fulfilled, rich, free, and happy.
"The difficulty in governing the people arises from their excessive cleverness." Here, "governing" means harmony and unity. Laozi believed that it is very difficult for the people to achieve harmony and unity among themselves, as they oppose and conflict with each other. "Cleverness" refers to wisdom driven by the pursuit of personal gain. This kind of wisdom differs from wisdom in the general sense, as it leads people into conflict and struggle, and the actual benefits gained from such cleverness are utterly insignificant compared to those achieved through unity and cooperation.
"Therefore, ruling a state with cleverness is the state's curse; ruling a state without cleverness is the state's blessing." Here, "curse" refers to the calamity or disaster that plunges the world into chaos, and this calamity is none other than turning human society into a hunting ground, where people's attitudes and actions toward society become indistinguishable from those of bandits.
Knowing these two principles is also a standard. Constantly knowing this standard is called Mysterious Virtue. Mysterious Virtue is deep and far-reaching, going against things, and then achieving great harmony. What is Mysterious Virtue? Is it not the Virtue of being thick with Virtue, comparable to a newborn baby? Is it not the Virtue of cultivating it in oneself, making one's Virtue genuine? Is it not the Virtue of the Way giving birth to it and Virtue nurturing it? This Virtue is the Virtue of the deep and far-reaching Way, because the Way is the foundation of the world, and the existence of the entire world is essentially the existence of the Way and Virtue. In "Mysterious Virtue is deep and far-reaching," "deep" means continuously penetrating, and "far-reaching" means continuously expanding. In "going against things," "against" means returning to the origin of existence, which is the world or the universe. This sentence can be understood as Mysterious Virtue being different from concrete things; Virtue is formless and imageless, needing to manifest through the movement of things, and must be examined and savored through the forms of things. Once it falls into the concrete, it is no longer Virtue.
Through interpreting this chapter of Laozi, we can deeply understand a principle of life: when undertaking tasks, only by following the great way and being honest and simple can we realize our life's value. Laozi states in this chapter that if people possess intellect, their hearts become deceitful, making the nation difficult to govern. We can extend this principle to individuals: if we have too much intellect, we not only feel tired and distressed but also gradually worsen our relationships with those around us. Imagine: if everyone is cunning, changeable, and full of scheming, all focused on satisfying their own desires, then society as a whole becomes hypocritical, deceitful, and repulsive. In such a case, what joy is there in living in this society?
No one wants to live in a hypocritical environment, nor does anyone wish to deal with deceitful people. If we want to escape such an environment and avoid interacting with the insincere, we must start with ourselves. No matter how the surroundings change, we must maintain a natural and pure state of mind, and in our interactions with others, uphold the qualities of simplicity and authenticity. Only in this way can we truly return to our original nature, find ease and contentment, and enjoy the joys of life.