Chapter 19

1. If we could renounce¹ our sageness² and discard our wisdom, it would be better for the people a hundredfold. If we could renounce our benevolence³ and discard our righteousness, the people would again become filial and kindly⁴. If we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers.

2. Those three methods (of government)
Thought olden ways in elegance⁵ did fail
And made these names their want of worth to veil;
But simple views, and courses plain and true
Would selfish ends and many lusts⁶ eschew⁷.

       绝圣弃智，民利百倍；
       绝仁弃义，民复孝慈；
       绝巧弃利，盗贼无有。
       此三者以为文，不足，故令有所属：
       见素抱朴，少私寡欲。

【译文】
       抛弃贤圣权威及权威成见，人民可以得到更大的好处；抛弃仁、义等道德律则，人民将恢复他们的孝慈本性；抛弃技巧与厚利的助纣与诱引，盗贼将自动消失。
       不过，这三项措施作为治标之举，还不足以治本，所以，应把它们作为从属的措施并继之以更为基本的总体原则：表现纯真，持守混沌，减少私心杂欲。

1 renounce   

v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系

参考例句：

• She decided to renounce the world and enter a convent.她决定弃绝尘世去当修女。
• It was painful for him to renounce his son.宣布与儿子脱离关系对他来说是很痛苦的。

2 sageness   

n.贤明；明智　

参考例句：

• Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safeness of TGP in the treatment of ankyolsing spondylitis (AS). 目的　评价帕夫林对强直性脊柱炎的疗效和安全性。
• Shu da toothpaste is well known for its quick usage, outstanding effect and absolute safeness. 舒齿达牙膏以快速卓越的效果、使用绝对安全著称于世。

3 benevolence   

n.慈悲，捐助

参考例句：

• We definitely do not apply a policy of benevolence to the reactionaries.我们对反动派决不施仁政。
• He did it out of pure benevolence. 他做那件事完全出于善意。

4 kindly   

adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地

参考例句：

• Her neighbours spoke of her as kindly and hospitable.她的邻居都说她和蔼可亲、热情好客。
• A shadow passed over the kindly face of the old woman.一道阴影掠过老太太慈祥的面孔。

5 elegance   

n.优雅；优美，雅致；精致，巧妙

参考例句：

• The furnishings in the room imparted an air of elegance.这个房间的家具带给这房间一种优雅的气氛。
• John has been known for his sartorial elegance.约翰因为衣着讲究而出名。

6 lusts   

贪求（lust的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• A miser lusts for gold. 守财奴贪财。
• Palmer Kirby had wakened late blooming lusts in her. 巴穆·柯比在她心中煽动起一片迟暮的情欲。

7 eschew   

v.避开，戒绝

参考例句：

• Eschew fattening foods if you want to lose weight.你如想减肥，就不要吃致肥的食物。
• Good kid should eschew bad company.好孩子应避免交坏朋友。