Tao Te Ching · Ch. 53

使我介然有知,行於大道,唯施是畏。大道甚夷,而人好徑。朝甚除,田甚蕪,倉甚虛;服文彩,帶利劍,厭飲食,財貨有餘;是謂盜夸。非道也哉!

Shǐ wǒ jiè rán yǒu zhī, xíng yú dà dào, wéi shī shì wèi. Dà dào shèn yí, ér rén hào jìng. Cháo shèn chú, tián shèn wú, cāng shèn xū; Fú wén cǎi, dài lì jiàn, yàn yǐn shí, cái huò yǒu yú; Shì wèi dào kuā. Fēi dào yě zāi!

If I had even the smallest wisdom, I would walk the great Tao and fear only going astray. The great Tao is very level and smooth, yet people prefer the side paths. The court is in ruin; the fields are overgrown; the granaries are empty — yet those in power wear embroidered robes, carry sharp swords, gorge themselves on food and drink, and hoard wealth beyond measure. This is called robber-lords. It is not the Tao!

— Tao Te Ching 53

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