Tao Te Ching Ch.3: The Rule That Keeps the People Quiet (圣人之治)

不bù尚shàng贤xián，使shǐ民mín不bù争zhēng。不bù贵guì难nán得dé之zhī货huò，使shǐ民mín不bù为wéi盗dào；不bú见jiàn可kě欲yù，使shǐ民mín心xīn不bù乱luàn。

1Not to value and employ men of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves; not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves; not to show them what is likely to excite their desires is the way to keep their minds from disorder.

是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén之zhī治zhì，虚xū其qí心xīn，实shí其qí腹fù，弱ruò其qí志zhì，强qiáng其qí骨gǔ。

2Therefore the sage, in the exercise of his government, empties their minds, fills their bellies, weakens their wills, and strengthens their bones.

常cháng使shǐ民mín无wú知zhī无wú欲yù，使shǐ夫fú智zhì者zhě不bù敢gǎn为wéi也yě。

3He constantly (tries to) keep them without knowledge and without desire, and where there are those who have knowledge, to keep them from presuming to act (on it).

为wéi无wú为wéi，则zé无wú不bù治zhì。

4When there is this abstinence from action, good order is universal.