Tao Te Ching · Ch. 58

其政悶悶,其民淳淳;其政察察,其民缺缺。禍兮福之所倚,福兮禍之所伏。孰知其極?其無正也,正復為奇,善復為妖。人之迷,其日固久。是以聖人方而不割,廉而不劌,直而不肆,光而不耀。

Qí zhèng mèn mèn, qí mín chún chún; Qí zhèng chá chá, qí mín quē quē. Huò xī fú zhī suǒ yǐ, fú xī huò zhī suǒ fú. Shú zhī qí jí? Qí wú zhèng yě, zhèng fù wéi qí, shàn fù wéi yāo. Rén zhī mí, qí rì gù jiǔ. Shì yǐ shèng rén fāng ér bù gē, lián ér bù guì, zhí ér bù sì, guāng ér bù yào.

When government is unobtrusive and lenient, the people are pure and simple. When government is vigilant and intrusive, the people become anxious and crafty. Misfortune is what fortune leans upon; fortune is where misfortune hides. Who knows where the turning point lies? When the upright becomes the devious, and the good becomes monstrous — people have been confused about this for a very long time. Therefore the sage is square-edged but does not cut; principled but does not wound; straight but not aggressive; bright but not blinding.

— Tao Te Ching 58

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