淳德
原文
古之善为道者，非以明民，将以愚之。民之难治，以其智多。故以智治国，国之贼；不以智治国，国之福。知此两者亦𥡴式。常知𥡴式，是谓玄德。玄德深矣，远矣，与物反矣，然后乃至大顺。
王弼注
古之善为道者，非以明民，将以愚之。明，谓多见巧诈，蔽其朴也。愚谓无知守真，顺自然也。民之难治，以其智多。多智巧诈，故难治也。故以智治国，国之贼；智，犹治也，以智而治国，所以谓之贼者，故谓之智也。民之难治，以其多智也，当务塞兑闭门，令无知无欲，而以智术动民。邪心既动，复以巧术防民之伪，民知其术，防随而避之，思惟密巧，奸伪益滋，故曰，以智治国，国之贼也。不以智治国，国之福。知此两者亦稽式。常知稽式，是谓玄德。玄德深矣，远矣，稽，同也。古今之所同则而不可费，能知稽式，是谓玄德，玄德深矣，远矣。与物反矣，反其真也。然后乃至大顺。
英文 · James Legge
(Pure, unmixed excellence) The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Dao did so, not to enlighten the people, but rather to make them simple and ignorant. The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much knowledge. He who (tries to) govern a state by his wisdom is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing. He who knows these two things finds in them also his model and rule. Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call the mysterious excellence (of a governor). Deep and far-reaching is such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possessor as opposite to others, but leading them to a great conformity to him.