Tao Te Ching · Chapter 37

Chinese text

道常無為
而無不為。
侯王若能守之，萬物將自化。化而欲作，吾將鎮之以無名之樸。
無名之樸，夫亦將無欲。
不欲以靜，天下將自定。

English support translation

The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it), and so there is nothing which it does not do.

If princes and kings were able to maintain it, all things would of themselves be transformed by them.

If this transformation became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity.

Simplicity without a name

Is free from all external aim.

With no desire, at rest and still,

All things go right as of their will.