Abandon the show of saintliness and relinquish excessive prudence, then people will benefit a hundredfold. Abandon ostentatious benevolence and conspicuous righteousness, then people will return to the primal virtues of filial piety and parental affection. Abandon cleverness and relinquish gains, then thieves and robbers will disappear.
Here are three fundamentals on which to depend, wherein culture is insufficient. Therefore let all men hold to that which is reliable, namely, recognize simplicity, cherish purity, reduce one's possessions, diminish one's desires.
Interpretation:
The main theme of this chapter has been explored before, namely that, since high and low, good and bad, create each other, the way to peace lie in avoiding both.
The line "then people will benefit a hundredfold," makes it appear that this chapter is directed at a ruler or leader again. The second stanza though lends itself easily to advice for daily living. It observes that culture, cannot provide these answers, pointing out again that true peace it found within.
The three "fundamentals" referred to are generally considered to be, "abandon saintliness and excessive prudence," "abandon benevolence and conspicuous righteousness," and "abandon cleverness and gain."
It is interesting to note that the author qualifies his statements, Why do you feel the says "excessive prudence" and "conspicuous righteousness" rather than just "prudence" and "righteousness?"
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