Because

I have a little wisdom,

I choose to walk the great path of

Tao, fearing nothing but to stray from

it. The great way is very smooth

and easy, but some people

are fond of getting

sidetracked.

 

When a ruler’s

palace is full of treasure,

the people’s fields are weedy

and their granaries are empty.

If the ruler wears fancy clothes and

his house is full of weapons, if his table

is laden with extravagant food and drink

and everywhere one looks he has more

wealth than he can use, the ruler

is a robber and thief. This

is not in keeping

with Tao.