when government is lazy and informal

　　the people are kind and honest;

　　when government is efficient and severe

　　the people are discontented and deceitful.

　　good fortune follows upon disaster;

　　disaster lurks within good fortune;

　　who can say how things will end?

　　perhaps there is no end.

　　honesty is ever deceived;

　　kindness is ever seduced;

　　men have been like this for a long time. so the sage is firm but not cutting,

　　pointed but not piercing,

　　straight but not rigid,

　　bright but not blinding.