Chapter 60. Filling the throne
![Picture of a Chinese imperial throne. from Qing dynasty, Qianlong reign, 1736–95.](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/WLA_vanda_Chinese_Imperial_Throne_Qing_dynasty_Qianlong_reign.jpg)
States should be governed like we boil small fish, without much ado.
When Tao is brought to guide the nation, it gives rest to the shadows of the dead¹.
Not like that the spirits would become idle but they stop menacing the people.
But – what is more important – a wise leader of the people does no evil to them.
And when these don’t bother each other, their effect is focused on the common good.
- Mr. Ervast: Laozi knew well how restless the “netherworld” is when earthly life has boasted the lusts generated by a badly run society.
Own translation from 1925 Finnish translation by Pekka Ervast (ISBN 951-8995-01-X) with kind permission of Ruusu-Ristin Kirjallisuusseura ry.