Dao De Jing

58. No End

When government is lazy and informal

The people are kind and honest;

When government is efficient and severe

The people are discontented and deceitful.

Good fortune follows upon disaster;

Disaster lurks within good fortune;

Who can say how things will end?

Perhaps there is no end.

Honesty is ever deceived;

Kindness is ever seduced;

Men have been like this for a long time.

So the sage is firm but not cutting,

Pointed but not piercing,

Straight but not rigid,

Bright but not blinding.