DIANJI · 典籍
Tao Te Ching · Chapter 12
A source-aware reading page for Tao Te Ching chapter 12.
Read Tao Te Ching chapter 12 with the Chinese text, Wang Bi and Heshang Gong commentary, Legge's 1891 translation, and source notes.
Chinese text
五色令人目盲，五音令人耳聾，五味令人口爽，馳騁畋獵令人心發狂，
難得之貨令人行妨。
是以聖人為腹不為目，故去彼取此。
English support translation
Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take;
Music's five notes the ears as deaf can make;
The flavours five deprive the mouth of taste;
The chariot course, and the wild hunting waste
Make mad the mind; and objects rare and strange,
Sought for, men's conduct will to evil change.
Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes. He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former.