贪损 · 无以生为者是贤于贵生

Tān Sǔn

Classical Chinese Text

民之饥，以其上食税之多，是以饥。民之难治，以其上之有为，是以难治。民之轻死，以其上求生之厚，是以轻死。夫唯无以生为者，是贤于贵生。

Translation & Meaning

百姓之所以遭受饥荒贫困，是因为上位者横征暴敛、吞噬赋税太多，所以百姓才陷入饥馁。 百姓之所以难以治理，是因为上位者好大喜功、政令折腾不休，所以才变得难以治理。 百姓之所以被迫轻生冒死，是因为上位者贪求奢华奉养太过度，所以百姓才走投无路而轻视死亡。 唯有不把奉养私欲享乐当作人生目标的人，才真正高明于那些刻意钻营厚养的人。

Commentary

青禾散人评注：老子目光如炬，将底层民生疾苦的根源直指上位者的“食税之多、有为折腾、求生之厚”。简政轻赋、恬淡寡欲，方为长治久安之道。

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 民 (mín): classical character (mín)
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 饥 (jī): classical character (jī)
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 其 (qí): its / their / his / her
  • 上 (shàng): elevate / utmost / high
  • 食 (shí): classical character (shí)
  • 税 (shuì): classical character (shuì)
  • 多 (duō): classical character (duō)
  • 是 (shì): this / therefore
  • 难 (nán): difficult / arduous
  • 治 (zhì): govern / bring order / rule
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 为 (wèi): act / deem / become
  • 轻 (qīng): classical character (qīng)
  • 死 (sǐ): classical character (sǐ)
  • 求 (qiú): classical character (qiú)
  • 生 (shēng): give birth to / arise
  • 厚 (hòu): classical character (hòu)
  • 夫 (fū): for / indeed / now
  • 唯 (wéi): only / precisely because
  • 无 (wú): formless void / non-being / without
  • 者 (zhě): aspects / those who / things
  • 贤 (xián): talents / worthy / clever
  • 于 (yú): to / at / in
  • 贵 (guì): prize / cherish / valuable