The Old Philosopher's Canon of Reason and Virtue: 19. Returning to Simplicity

1. Abandon your saintliness; put away your prudence; and the people will gain a hundredfold! 2. Abandon your benevolence; put away your justice; and the people will return to filial piety and paternal devotion. 3. Abandon smartness; give up greed; and thieves and robbers will no longer exist. 4. These are three things for which culture is insufficient. Therefore it is said: "Hold fast to that which will endure, Show thyself simple, preserve thee pure, And lessen self with desires fewer."