The ancients who were good at practicing the Dao did not enlighten the people, but rather made them simple-minded. Saying that the ancients who were good at using the Dao to cultivate themselves and govern the country did not use the Dao to teach the people wisdom, intelligence, or cunning deception; rather, they used morality and the Dao to educate the people, making them simple, honest, and free from deceit. The difficulty in governing the people lies in their excessive intelligence. The reason why the people are difficult to govern is that they have much intelligence and engage in cunning and deceit. Therefore, governing a country with intelligence is like being a thief to the state; If those who are wise and intelligent govern the affairs of the country, they will distance themselves from morality, arbitrarily exercise power and blessings, becoming thieves to the state. Not governing a country with intelligence brings blessing to the state. If those who are not wise and intelligent do not govern the affairs of the state, then the people will uphold integrity, refrain from evil and pretense, and rulers and subjects will be close to each other, working together with unity; thus it becomes a blessing for the state. Knowing these two principles is also an established model. The two refer to intelligence and lack of intelligence.

Always knowing that the wise are thieves, while those who are not intelligent bring blessings, is the model for cultivating oneself and governing the country. To constantly know this established model is called profound virtue. Xuan means Heaven. Knowing the model for cultivating oneself and governing a country is called having virtue in harmony with Heaven. Profound virtue is deep, far-reaching; The person who possesses profound virtue is deeply unfathomable and beyond reach. He returns with things! The person of profound virtue is different from all things; while all things desire to benefit themselves, the person with profound virtue gives and bestows upon others. Only then can one attain the greatest harmony. Because profound virtue is contrary to all things, it thus attains great harmony. Following the principles of Heaven.