Tao Te Ching · Ch. 19

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。

Jué shèng qì zhì, mín lì bǎi bèi; Jué rén qì yì, mín fù xiào cí; Jué qiǎo qì lì, dào zéi wú yǒu. Cǐ sān zhě yǐ wéi wén, bù zú. Gù lìng yǒu suǒ shǔ: Jiàn sù bào pǔ, shǎo sī guǎ yù.

Abandon sagehood and discard cleverness, and the people will benefit a hundredfold. Abandon benevolence and discard righteousness, and the people will return to filial piety and parental love. Abandon skill and discard profit, and there will be no thieves or robbers. These three teachings are insufficient as ornaments, so let the people hold something to belong to: show plainness, embrace simplicity, reduce selfishness, lessen desire.

— Tao Te Ching 19

Source: Wang Bi edition (Chinese) + Hanyu Pinyin transliteration