Governing with stillness

In allowing the world to be itself, nonaction is prized. If government orders the state through political instructions and employs troops through deceptive surprises, neither accords with the Way. Only absence of affairs and nonaction can take the world. These three statements introduce the theme. 'Through this': know it from what follows. Governing the state through political measures constantly multiplies taboos; people lose their occupations and become poorer. Sharp instruments mean expedient schemes. When rulers prize many schemes and cannot return to substance, those below respond with deception, making the state increasingly dark and disordered. When rulers prize many techniques and cannot display simplicity, those below respond with extravagance, making excessive, strange objects proliferate. Once nonaction is lost, laws and commands become more explicit; people steal the laws to practice treachery and all become thieves. Is this not their multiplication? Nonaction brings clear stillness, so people transform themselves. Absence of affairs avoids disturbance, so people enrich themselves. Loving stillness obtains nature, so people correct themselves. Desirelessness preserves harmony, so people become simple. This is taking the world through absence of affairs.