原文
公有领域絕聖棄智，民利百倍；絕仁棄義，民復孝慈；絕巧棄利，盜賊無有。此三者以為文不足，故令有所屬：見素抱樸，少私寡欲。
王弼注
待校读聖智，才之善也。仁義，人之善也。巧利，用之善也。而直云絕，文甚不足，不令之有所屬，無以見其指，故曰，此三者以為文而未足，故令人有所屬，屬之於素樸寡欲。
河上公章句
待校读絕聖制作，反初守元。五帝垂象，倉頡作書，不如三皇結繩無文。
棄智慧，反無為。
農事修，公無私。
絕仁之見恩惠，棄義之尚華言。
德化淳也。
絕巧者，詐偽亂真也。棄利者，塞貪路閉權門也。
上化公正，下無邪私。
謂上三事所棄絕也。
以為文不足者，文不足以教民。
當如下句。
見素者，當抱素守真，不尚文飾也。抱朴者，當抱其質樸，以示下，故可法則。
少私者，正無私也。寡欲者，當知足也。
Legge 1891
Public domainIf we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom, it would be better for the people a hundredfold. If we could renounce our benevolence and discard our righteousness, the people would again become filial and kindly. If we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers. Those three methods (of government) Thought olden ways in elegance did fail And made these names their want of worth to veil; But simple views, and courses plain and true Would selfish ends and many lusts eschew.