1If 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.

2Those 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.