Daodejing, Book of the Way and Virtue Chapter 75

民之饑，以其上食稅之多，是以饑。民之難治，以其上之有為，是以難治。民之輕死，以其上求生之厚，是以輕死。夫唯無以生為者，是賢於貴生。

The people suffer from famine because of the multitude of taxes consumed by their superiors. It is through this that they suffer famine. The people are difficult to govern because of the (excessive) agency of their superiors (in governing them). It is through this that they are difficult to govern. The people make light of dying because of the greatness of their labours in seeking for the means of living. It is this which makes them think light of dying. Thus it is that to leave the subject of living altogether out of view is better than to set a high value on it.

Le peuple a faim parce que le prince dévore une quantité d’impôts. Voilà pourquoi il a faim. Le peuple est difficile à gouverner parce que le prince aime à agir. Voilà pourquoi il est difficile à gouverner. Le peuple méprise la mort parce qu’il cherche avec trop d’ardeur les moyens de vivre. Voilà pourquoi il méprise la mort. Mais celui qui ne s’occupe pas de vivre est plus sage que celui qui estime la vie.