Line by Line - Verse 58, Lines 1-2

The government that seems the most unwise,
Oft goodness to the people best supplies;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

When the country is ruled with a light hand
The people are simple.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

When governing is lackluster
The people are simple and honest
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

When a nation is ruled
with a light touch,
people lead simple lives.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

Let's knock this idea down a rung or two to the family unit. When parents aren't lording their authority over their children, the kids aren't trying to devise ways to get around parental edicts. When parents don't work their progeny to death, the children don't try to figure out how to get out of work. When parents aren't whipping the hide off their kids for every perceived infraction, the children don't spend their time looking over their shoulder for the next whack coming their direction.

When parents lead the household with a light, yet firm, touch, this allows their children the freedom to be who they are -- kids.

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