| Ah Heng's Daoism Page |
| Chapter Nineteen Dispense with morality and knowledge, the masses benefit a hundred fold; Dispense with kindness and righteousness, the masses rediscover duty and compassion; Dispense with intelligence and desirables, no longer will there be any robbers and thieves. (Heng: Daoist Political Philosphy is always contrary to our common assumptions about law, order and justice.) With these three being emphasized, the masses will naturally find a place to belong to, holding the uncarved block and simplicity is achieved, there will be less selfishness and desires in societies. [Terminate learning and there will be no worries] (Heng: The last bracketed sentence which exists between this and next Chapter, seems to have been added by later scholars and it doesn't give me a good feeling at all. The chapter is not talking about 'terminating learning' but refering to certain ethical conducts of the Emperor.) |
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