Daodejing, Book of the Way and Virtue Chapter 53

使我介然有知，行於大道，唯施是畏。 大道甚夷，而民好徑。 朝甚除， 田甚蕪，倉甚虛； 服文綵，帶利劍，厭飲食，財貨有餘；是為盜夸。非道也哉！

If I were suddenly to become known, and (put into a position to) conduct (a government) according to the Great Tao, what I should be most afraid of would be a boastful display. The great Tao (or way) is very level and easy; but people love the by-ways. Their court(-yards and buildings) shall be well kept, but their fields shall be ill-cultivated, and their granaries very empty. They shall wear elegant and ornamented robes, carry a sharp sword at their girdle, pamper themselves in eating and drinking, and have a superabundance of property and wealth;--such (princes) may be called robbers and boasters. This is contrary to the Tao surely!

Si j’étais doué de quelque connaissance, je marcherais dans la grande Voie. La seule chose que je craigne, c’est d’agir. La grande Voie est très-unie, mais le peuple aime les sentiers. Si les palais sont très-brillants, les champs sont très-incultes, et les greniers très-vides. Les princes s’habillent de riches étoffes ; ils portent un glaive tranchant ; ils se rassasient de mets exquis ; ils regorgent de richesses. C’est ce qu’on appelle se glorifier du vol ; ce n’est point pratiquer le Tao.