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Chapter
17
太上,下知有之;其次,亲而誉之;其次,畏之;其次,侮之。信不足,有不信。
悠兮其贵言。功成事遂,百姓皆谓:「我自然」。
The best sovereigns, their people know only their existence; the less good, the people love them and praise them; the following, they fear them; and the last, they despise them.
Whoever does not trust others does not get theirs.
Good sovereigns are relaxed and give few orders. Once the people have succeeded in their venture, they are elated: We have succeeded on our own.
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