第三十七章  無為而為

道常無為而無不為。侯王若能守之，萬物將自化。化而欲作，吾將鎮(zhèn)之以無名之樸。無名之樸，夫亦將不欲。不欲以靜，天下將自定。

Getting all Things Done without Acting

Eternal Tao doesn't do anything, yet it leaves nothing undone.

If leaders would follow the Way, the world would be reformed of its own accord. When reformed and desiring to act, let them be restrained by what is simply natural. Undefined simplicity is free of desires.

Being free of desires, it is serene; and the world finds peace of its own accord.

[譯文]

道沒有逞個(gè)體私欲去行為，但宇宙的一切都是其所為。王侯們?nèi)缒茼槕?yīng)道的規(guī)律而行為，萬物就形成完美的平衡與和諧。萬物自生自化中滋生貪欲，我將用先天的樸實(shí)無華的大德來安定它。用先天樸實(shí)的淳德進(jìn)行正化，人們才不被個(gè)人的欲望而迷失。

無欲求而清靜遵道而為，天下便自歸安定。