1 The ancients who showed their skill in practising the Way of God did so, not to puff up the people with cleverness, but rather to make them simple and sincere.

2 The difficulty in governing the people arises from their having much cunning. He who (tries to) govern a state by cunning is a scourge to it; while he who does not (try to) do so is a blessing.

3 He who knows these two things finds in them also his model and rule. Ability to know this model and rule constitutes what we call the mysterious excellence (of a governor). Deep and far-reaching is such mysterious excellence, showing indeed its possessor as opposite to others, but leading them to a great conformity to him.