Fifty-Seven

To govern the state,

do what's expected.

To win a war,

do what's unexpected.

To gain the world,

use non-action.

How can this be so?

The more rules you enforce,

the poorer people become.

The more weapons you build,

the greater the country's chaos.

The more clever and cunning people are,

the more insidious their inventions.

Therefore, those down with the floating tao

say less and people are informed.

Worry less and people do the right thing.

Get out of the way and people become prosperous.

Allow more space

for things

to find

their own

unique sense

of balance.

This is the unteachable teaching.