Tao Te Ching – 48

In pursuit of knowledge,

everyday something is gained,

In practice of the Tao,

everyday something is dropped.

less and less to force things,

until you reach non-doing.

When nothing is done,

nothing is left undone.

Government shall not bother people,

if government constantly bother people,

this one should not be in charge.

This chapter teaches that learning adds, but the Tao subtracts.

By continually reducing desire and over-doing, one arrives at non-doing (wu wei), state. From this state, things unfold naturally, and nothing essential is left undone.

The world is best guided through simplicity and non-interference; once governments impose themselves too much, they lose the ability to govern well.

In essence, Chapter 48 reveals that true effectiveness comes from restraint, trust in natural order, and knowing when not to act.