Its administration is muddled and obscure. Its political teachings are broad and lenient, muddled and dim, seemingly unclear. The people are sincere and earnest. Because the political teachings are broad and lenient; thus, the people are sincere, affluent, and harmonious with one another. Its administration is meticulous and scrutinizing. Its political teachings are urgent and hasty, decisions made by the mouth, judgments based on what is heard with the ears. The people are lacking and deficient. The political teachings are urgent and hasty. The people cannot even sustain their lives. Therefore, they become increasingly sparse and thin in virtue. Misfortune is where fortune leans upon; Yi means rely on or depend on. Fortune arises from misfortune; when people encounter misfortune and are able to repent, take responsibility for themselves, cultivate the Dao and perform good deeds, then misfortune departs and fortune arrives. Fortune is where misfortune lies hidden. Misfortune lurks within fortune; when people receive fortune and become arrogant or indulgent, then fortune departs and misfortune arrives. Who can know its limit? Misfortune and fortune transform into each other; who could possibly know the time when their cycle reaches an end? There is no fixed standard.

Wu means not or without. It refers to a ruler who does not correct himself; it is as if he has no state at all. What is upright may revert to the strange and unusual; Qi means deceit or trickery. When a ruler is not upright, even if his subordinates are just, they will eventually be transformed by the superior into deceit. Goodness may revert to falsehood. Even good people will eventually be transformed by their superiors into false omens and illusions. The confusion of the people has persisted for a long time. It means that since rulers have been confused and lost their uprightness, this state of affairs has already lasted for a very long time. Therefore, the sage is square yet not cutting; The sage practices uprightness and integrity to lead his subordinates, but does not cut or harm others. He is upright yet not harmful; The sage is clean and incorruptible, wishing to transform the people through virtue, but does not harm others. Nowadays it is not like this; they correct themselves in order to harm others. He is straightforward yet not unrestrained; Si means to extend or to indulge. The sage, although upright, bends himself to follow others and does not impose his own views. He is luminous yet not dazzling. Although the sage possesses unique insight and clarity, he should appear obscure and unremarkable, so as not to dazzle or confuse others.