Tao Te Ching Chapter 3

the short of it:

Words divide while actions unite.

3. giving the people rest.

Not exalting worth keeps the people from rivalry. Not prizing things hard to procure keeps the people from theft. Not looking on objects of lust keeps the heart from disorder. The government of the sage consists, accordingly, in emptying the heart (of desires) and filling the stomach; in weakening the will and strengthening the bones; in continually keeping the people from the knowledge and the desire (of evil); and in making those that have the knowledge not dare to act. [They act] inaction, and so nothing is ungoverned. 

Lau Tsze. Chalmers, John. The Speculations on Metaphysics, Polity, and Morality, of “the Old Philosopher,” Lau-tsze, Translated from the Chinese, with an Introduction by J. Chalmers. United Kingdom: Trübner, 1868.

3. ‘keeping the people at rest.’

3.1. Not to value and employ [people] of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves; not to prize articles which are difficult to procure is the way to keep them from becoming thieves; not to show them what is likely to excite their desires is the way to keep their minds from disorder. 

3.2 Therefore the sage, in the exercise of [their] government, empties their minds, fills their bellies, weakens their wills, and strengthens their bones. 

3.3. [They constantly (try to)] keep them without knowledge and without desire, and where there are those who have knowledge, to keep them from presuming to act (on it). When there is this abstinence from action, good order is universal. 

Lao-tze. Legge, James. The Sacred Books of China: The Texts of Tâoism. United Kingdom: Clarendon, 1891.

3. keeping the people quiet.

3.1 Not boasting of one’s worth forestalls people’s envy. Not prizing treasures difficult to obtain keeps people from committing theft. 

3.2 Not contemplating what kindles desire keeps the heart unconfused. 

3.3 Therefore the holy [person] when [they govern empty] the people’s hearts but [fill] their stomachs. [They weaken] their ambition but [strengthen] their bones. Always [they keep] the people unsophisticated and without desire. [They cause] that the crafty do not dare to act. When [they act] with non-assertion there is nothing ungoverned. 

Lao-tze. Suzuki, D.T. and Carus, Paul. The Canon of Reason and Virtue: Lao-tze’s Tao Teh King. United States: Open court publishing Company, 1913.

the long of it:

Value judgements (words) divide. Instead, focus on keeping people healthy (fed), and watch them unite.

-TB