Great beauty fades and becomes rippled by rain.
The greatest fault cannot be fixed.
Paying it no attention, it drifts on in self-interest.
Treat others like this
And they will love you.
And you will be loving too.
other readings further drafts from the same generation
deeper strata where the meaning thins
the original
1. If we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom, it
would be better for the people a hundredfold. If we could renounce
our benevolence and discard our righteousness, the people would again
become filial and kindly. If we could renounce our artful
contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no
thieves nor robbers.
2.
Those three methods (of government)
Thought olden ways in elegance did fail
And made these names their want of worth to veil;
But simple views, and courses plain and true
Would selfish ends and many lusts eschew.