57. Conquer with Inaction
do not control the people with laws,
nor violence nor espionage,
but conquer them with inaction.
for:
the more morals and taboos there are,
the more cruelty afflicts people;
the more guns and knives there are,
the more factions divide people;
the more arts and skills there are,
the more change obsoletes people;
the more laws and taxes there are,
the more theft corrupts people.
yet take no action, and the people nurture eachother;
make no laws, and the people deal fairly with eachother;
own no interest, and the people cooperate with eachother;
express no desire, and the people harmonize with eachother.