The Vanity of Thieves
Translation by Tree Buffalo
If I were to possess the tiniest amount of knowledge, it would be to walk the Great Path of nature.
And only straying from this path would I fear.
The Great Path is exceedingly steady to walk on, but people prefer to be distracted by the side roads.
Their places of government are exceedingly well-kept while their fields are exceedingly poor and their granaries exceedingly empty.
They dress in elegant clothes while carrying sharp weapons at their side.
They eat and drink to excess and have too many wealthy possessions.
This is known as the vanity of thieves, and is indeed far from the path of Nature.
Read some of the first English translations of Chapter 53 here.
