第十九章  见素抱朴

绝圣弃智，民利百倍；绝仁弃义，民复孝慈；绝巧弃利，盗贼无有。此三者以为文不足。故令有所属：见素抱朴，少思寡欲。 

绝学无忧。

Embracing Simplicity

Throw away the human sacred and human cleverness ,

and people will benefit a hundredfold.

Drop human morality and righteousness,

people will return to be filial and kindly.

Drop shrewdness, abandon greediness,turmoil to gain will no longer exist.

These three things are superficial and are not adequate.

Therefore, they should be subordinated To a Higher principle:

reveal simplicity; embrace the natural; control selfishness; reduce desires.

There will be no disturbance if human strategies on greediness are abandoned.

 [译文]

摈除谋求私欲的假借圣名和智巧，民众受益百倍。摈除谋私的假仁假义，民众就自然恢复和谐相处状态；摈除巧取和谋利，就可以根除人为的巧取豪夺、窃为己有的行为了。

以上三者也只是表层的，还有更为基本的准则。保持纯洁朴实的本性， 减少私心杂念。

抛弃人类因私心贪欲而异化的智巧，就不会有烦恼和忧虑了。