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Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Outer Chapters -> Cutting open Satchels -> 2

故曰：Hence it is that we have the sayings,
“唇竭则齿寒， 'When the lips are gone the teeth are cold;'
鲁酒薄而邯郸围， 'The poor wine of Lu gave occasion to the siege of Han-dan;'
圣人生而大盗起。” 'When sages are born great robbers arise.'
掊击圣人，Only when you destroy the sages
纵舍盗贼，and pardon all the thieves and robbers
而天下始治矣。 can the world begin to be ordered.
夫川竭而谷虚，When the stream is dried, the valley is empty;
丘夷而渊实。when the mound is levelled, the deep pool (beside it) is filled up.
圣人已死， When the sages have died,
则大盗不起， the great robbers will not arise;
天下平而无故矣。the world would be at peace, and there would be no more troubles.
圣人不死， While the sagely men have not died,
大盗不止。 great robbers will not cease to appear.
虽重圣人而治天下， The more right that is attached to (the views of) the sagely men for the government of the world,
则是重利盗跖也。 the more advantage will accrue to (such men as) the robber Kih.
为之斗斛以量之， If we make for men pecks and bushels to measure (their wares),
则并与斗斛而窃之； even by means of those pecks and bushels should we be teaching them to steal;
为之权衡以称之， if we make for them weights and steelyards to weigh (their wares),
则并与权衡而窃之； even by means of those weights and steelyards shall we be teaching them to steal.
为之符玺以信之， If we make for them tallies and seals to secure their good faith,
则并与符玺而窃之； even by means of those tallies and seals shall we be teaching them to steal.
为之仁义以矫之， If we make for them benevolence and righteousness to make their doings correct,
则并与仁义而窃之。 even by means of benevolence and righteousness shall we be teaching them to steal.
何以知其然邪？How do I know that it is so?
彼窃钩者诛，Here is one who steals a hook (for his girdle) - he is put to death for it:
窃国者为诸侯，here is another who steals a state - he becomes its prince.
诸侯之门，而仁义存焉， But it is at the gates of the princes that we find benevolence and righteousness (most strongly) professed
则是非窃仁义圣知邪？- is not this stealing benevolence and righteousness, sageness and wisdom?
故逐于大盗， Thus they hasten to become great robbers,
揭诸侯， carry off princedoms,
窃仁义并斗斛、权衡、符玺之利者，and steal benevolence and righteousness, with all the gains springing from the use of pecks and bushels, weights and steelyards, tallies and seals:
虽有轩冕之赏弗能劝， even the rewards of carriages and coronets have no power to influence (to a different course),
斧钺之威弗能禁。 and the terrors of the axe have no power to restrain in such cases.
此重利盗跖而使不可禁者，The giving of so great gain to robbers (like) Zhi, and making it impossible to restrain them
是乃圣人之过也。 - this is the error committed by the sages.
故曰：In accordance with this it is said,
“鱼不可脱于渊， 'Fish should not be taken from (the protection of) the deep waters;
国之利器不可以示人。” the agencies for the profit of a state should not be shown to men.'
彼圣人者，But those sages (and their teachings)
天下之利器也， are the agencies for the profit of the world,
非所以明天下也。 and should not be exhibited to it.
故绝圣弃知， Therefore if an end were put to sageness and wisdom put away,
大盗乃止； the great robbers would cease to arise.
掷玉毁珠， If jade were put away and pearls broken to bits,
小盗不起； the small thieves would not appear.
焚符破玺， If tallies were burned and seals broken in pieces,
而民朴鄙； the people would become simple and unsophisticated.
掊斗折衡， If pecks were destroyed and steelyards snapped in two,
而民不争； the people would have no wrangling.
殚残天下之圣法， If the rules of the sages were entirely set aside in the world,
而民始可与论议。 a beginning might be made of reasoning with the people.
擢乱六律， If the six musical accords were reduced to a state of utter confusion,
铄绝竽瑟， organs and lutes all burned,
塞瞽旷之耳， and the ears of the (musicians like the) blind Khwang stopped up,
而天下始人含其聪矣； all men would begin to possess and employ their (natural) power of hearing.
灭文章， If elegant ornaments were abolished,
散五采，the five embellishing colours disused
胶离朱之目， and the eyes of (men like) Li Zhu glued up,
而天下始人含其明矣； all men would begin to possess and employ their (natural) power of vision.
毁绝钩绳而弃规矩，If the hook and line were destroyed, the compass and square thrown away,
攦工倕之指， and the fingers of men (like) the artful Khui smashed,
而天下始人有其巧矣。 all men would begin to possess and employ their (natural) skill
故曰：- as it is said,
“大巧若拙。” 'The greatest art is like stupidity.'
削曾、史之行， If conduct such as that of Zeng (Shen) and Shi (Qiu) were discarded,
钳杨、墨之口， the mouths of Yang (Zhu) and Mo (Di) gagged,
攘弃仁义， and benevolence and righteousness seized and thrown aside,
而天下之德始玄同矣。 the virtue of all men would begin to display its mysterious excellence.
彼人含其明， When men possessed and employed their (natural) power of vision,
则天下不铄矣； there would be no distortion in the world.
人含其聪， When they possessed and employed their (natural) power of hearing,
则天下不累矣； there would be no distractions in the world.
人含其知， When they possessed and employed their (natural) faculty of knowledge,
则天下不惑矣； there would be no delusions in the world.
人含其德， When they possessed and employed their (natural) virtue,
则天下不僻矣。 there would be no depravity in the world.
彼曾、史、杨、墨、师旷、工倕、离朱，Men like Zeng (Shen), Shi (Qiu), Yang (Zhu), Mo (Di), Shi Kuang (the musician), the artist Khui, and Li Zhu,
皆外立其德， all display their qualities outwardly,
而以爚乱天下者也， and set the world in a blaze (of admiration) and confound it
法之所无用也。- a method which is of no use!

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