老子《道德经》第十九章英译

【原文】

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。



【现代汉语】

抛弃投机取巧的智巧，人民就能得到百倍的好处；抛弃矫饰的仁、义，就可使人民恢复孝慈的天性；抛弃巧诈和利诱，盗贼就会消失。智巧、仁、义、巧诈和利诱都是虚伪矫饰的，不能以此治理天下。所以，要让人民有所归属，保持质朴，减少私欲，抛弃所谓的机巧、仁义巧诈的学问，就可以没有忧虑了。



【英译】

If we could renounce opportunistic trick , it would be better for the people a hundredfold; If we could discard strained virtue and morality, the people would again become filial and kindly; If we could discard fraud and desire of gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers.

The alleged trick, strained virtue and morality, fraud and desire of gain (sparkplugged by government of Lao Tse's age) are all false and strained. All of them could not be used in managing state and political affair. So, the governor should make themselves be organization that the people could believe in and depend upon. To keep unpretending simple self, check the selfishness, spurn the above deceptive behavior at the same time, and then there will be no troubles.



【备注】

很多观点认为老子本章专门投入笔墨讽刺打击以孔子为首的儒家思想，包括"仁、义、礼，圣人"等等，包括后面的许多章节。

但仔细读几遍，再对照道家、儒家的其他经典分析，便发现老子并无此意。其抨击的目标实际上是那些假借"仁义"欺世盗名的"伪人"，为达私欲而弄虚作假的政客。同时，也借此劝谏当权者不要走上"上有所好，下必甚焉"的歧路。
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