Tao Te Ching · 65 of 81 · tr. James Legge

Chapter 65

The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Tao did so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple and ignorant. The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge. He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing. He who knows these two things finds in them also his model and rule. Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call the mysterious excellence (of a governor). Deep and far-reaching is such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possessor as opposite to others, but leading them to a great conformity to him.

Themes

◇Childlike Innocenceanthropology

The infant or child as symbol of the unfallen, undivided spiritual state; return to primordial simplicity.

[auto] The text explicitly advocates for making people 'simple and ignorant,' aligning with the concept of returning to a primordial state of simplicity.

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◇Paradox As Teachingethics

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

[auto] The passage centrally relies on counter-intuitive reversals, such as governing by wisdom being a scourge while ignorance is a blessing, to convey its message.

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◇Wu Weipraxis

Effortless action aligned with the spontaneous flow of the Dao; non-coercive, non-striving conduct that yields results without forcing — the sage acts without acting.

[auto] The passage explicitly contrasts governing by wisdom with not trying to do so, defining the latter as a blessing and aligning perfectly with non-striving action.

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Related passages · 1 parallel

◆platonism|Plato: Republic|Section 1e

“Whereas the truth is that the State in which the rulers are most reluctant to govern is always the best and most quietly governed, and the State in which they are most eager, the worst. Quite true, he replied. And will our pupils, when th…”

Both passages discuss the ideal qualities of governance and the dangers of rulers who are overly eager for power. They emphasize the importance of wisdom and virtue in leadership, and the idea that the best rulers are those who are reluctant to govern.