liù shí

zhì dà guó
ruò pēng xiăo xiān
yĭ dào lì tiān xià
qí guĭ bù shén ; fēi qí guĭ bù shén
qí shén bù shāng rén ; fēi qí shén bù shāng rén
shèng rén yì bù shāng rén
fū liăng bù xiāng shāng
gù dé jiāo guī yān

60

Governing a large country
is like frying a small fish.
You spoil it with too much poking.

Center your country in the Tao
and evil will have no power.
Not that it isn't there,
but you'll be able to step out of its way.

Give evil nothing to oppose
and it will disappear by itself.