第三十七章  无为而为

道常无为而无不为。侯王若能守之，万物将自化。化而欲作，吾将镇之以无名之朴。无名之朴，夫亦将不欲。不欲以静，天下将自定。

Getting all Things Done without Acting

Eternal Tao doesn't do anything, yet it leaves nothing undone.

If leaders would follow the Way, the world would be reformed of its own accord. When reformed and desiring to act, let them be restrained by what is simply natural. Undefined simplicity is free of desires.

Being free of desires, it is serene; and the world finds peace of its own accord.

[译文]

道没有逞个体私欲去行为，但宇宙的一切都是其所为。王侯们如能顺应道的规律而行为，万物就形成完美的平衡与和谐。万物自生自化中滋生贪欲，我将用先天的朴实无华的大德来安定它。用先天朴实的淳德进行正化，人们才不被个人的欲望而迷失。

无欲求而清静遵道而为，天下便自归安定。