Sunday, November 13, 2011

Lao Tzu Chapter 19



Raw Silk and Uncut Wood

Stop being holy, forget being prudent
It'll be a hundred times better for everyone.

Stop being altruistic, forget being righteous,
people will remember what family feeling is.

Stop planning, forget making a profit,
there won't be any thieves and robbers.

But even these three rules
needn't be followed; what works reliably
is to know the raw silk,
hold the uncut wood.
Need little,
want less.
Forget the rules.
Be untroubled.

Translation by Ursula K. Le Guin

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