Tao Te Ching, 57

Govern the state with correctness.

Operate the army with surprise tactics.

Administer the empire by engaging in no activity.

How do I know that this should be so?

Through this:

The more taboos and prohibitions there are in the world,

The poorer the people will be.

The more sharp weapons the people have,

The more troubled the state will be.

The more cunning and skill man possesses,

The more vicious things will appear.

The more laws and orders are made prominent,

The more thieves and robbers there will be.

Therefore the sages says:

I take no action and the people of themselves are transformed.

I love tranquility and the people of themselves become correct.

I engage in no activity and the people of themselves become prosperous.

I have no desires and the people of themselves become simple.

(Tao Te Ching, 57)

Today, I would try to interpret the above text.

In the text, it can be understood that the way in which an empire or a government will succeed in making it prosperous is through letting things be. This is to say that the ruler should just let people and events go on its natural ways. He should not impose so many things for there may be some who might not want it, thus result in rebellion. The more he oppresses the people, the more they will revolt against you.

The way into getting the people to obey the ruler is through giving them examples by the use of actions. Although the ruler wanted the people to obey him, he doesn't force them to perform the same. He just let them realize the need of improvement on their own.

The text is saying that even though the ruler is the ruler, it doesn't mean that he is superior to the people. He is to respect them. Even though he is tasked to take care of the society, he still is a person like them, so he should still be one with them. This is to say that he should not force the people to what he wants or else there would be chaos. The way into a good or great society is through letting things go on in their own ways Meaning he should not interfere to the nature of things or people because interfering will result to disorganization.