淳德 · 玄德深矣远矣

Chún Dé

Classical Chinese Text

古之善为道者，非以明民，将以愚之。民之难治，以其智多。故以智治国，国之贼；不以智治国，国之福。知此两者，亦稽式。常知稽式，是谓玄德。玄德深矣，远矣，与物反矣，然后乃至大顺。

Translation & Meaning

古代善于行道治世的人，不是教导百姓变得工于心计、精明算计，而是涵养百姓复归于敦厚淳朴（愚）。 社会之所以难以治理，正是因为上下投机取巧的伪诈心机太多。所以靠权谋机巧去治国，必然沦为国家的祸害；不靠权谋机巧而以诚朴治国，才是国家的真正福祉。 深刻明白这两条截然相反的道路，便是治世立身的常法准绳。恒常持守这一准绳，就叫做“玄德”。玄德多么深邃啊，多么悠远啊！它与世俗逐利弄巧的习气恰恰相反，唯其返璞归真，最终才能抵达天地万物融洽无碍的“大顺”之境。

Commentary

青禾散人评注：老子所谓“愚之”绝非蒙昧愚民（居上者自身亦自称“我愚人之心也哉”），而是褪去尔虞我诈的机心巧伪，回归赤诚互信的“大顺”。

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 古 (gǔ): classical character (gǔ)
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 善 (shàn): goodness / skillful / kind
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 非 (fēi): is not / false / not equal to
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 明 (míng): classical character (míng)
  • 民 (mín): classical character (mín)
  • 将 (jiāng): classical character (jiāng)
  • 愚 (yú): classical character (yú)
  • 难 (nán): difficult / arduous
  • 治 (zhì): govern / bring order / rule
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 智 (zhì): classical character (zhì)
  • 多 (duō): classical character (duō)
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 国 (guó): classical character (guó)
  • 贼 (zéi): classical character (zéi)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 福 (fú): classical character (fú)
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 此 (cǐ): classical character (cǐ)
  • 两 (liǎng): two / duality / polarity
  • 亦 (yì): classical character (yì)
  • 稽 (jī): classical character (jī)
  • 式 (shì): classical character (shì)
  • 常 (cháng): constant / dynamic invariable
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 谓 (wèi): called / named / designated
  • 玄 (xuán): mystery / fathomless depth
  • 德 (dé): Intrinsic Virtue / inner power
  • 深 (shēn): classical character (shēn)
  • 矣 (yǐ): [modal particle of realization]
  • 远 (yuǎn): classical character (yuǎn)
  • 与 (yǔ): classical character (yǔ)
  • 物 (wù): things / phenomena / forms
  • 反 (fǎn): classical character (fǎn)
  • 然 (rán): classical character (rán)
  • 后 (hòu): after / behind
  • 乃 (nǎi): classical character (nǎi)
  • 至 (zhì): classical character (zhì)
  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 顺 (shùn): classical character (shùn)