十七

太上,
下不知有之﹔其次,
親而譽之﹔其次,
畏之﹔其次,
侮之。
信不足 焉,
有不信焉。
悠兮其貴言。
功成事遂,
百姓皆謂:「我自然」。

shí qī

tài shàng
xià bù zhī yŏu zhī ; qí cì
qīn ér yù zhī ; qí cì
wèi zhī ; qí cì
wŭ zhī
xìn bù zú yān
yŏu bù xìn yān
yōu xī qí guì yán
gōng chéng shì suì
băi xìng jiē wèi 「wŏ zì rán 」

17

When the Master governs, the people
are hardly aware that he exists.
Next best is a leader who is loved.
Next, one who is feared.
The worst is one who is despised.

If you don't trust the people,
you make them untrustworthy.

The Master doesn't talk, he acts.
When his work is done,
the people say, "Amazing: we did it, all by ourselves!"
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