Chapter 12
第十二章
Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take;
五色令人目盲;
Music's five notes the ears as deaf can make;
五音令人耳聾;
The flavours five deprive the mouth of taste;
五味令人口爽;
The chariot course, and the wild hunting waste
馳騁畋獵,
Make mad the mind;
令人心發狂;

and objects rare and strange,
難得之貨,
Sought for, men's conduct will to evil change.
令人行妨;
Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes.
是以圣人為腹不為目,
He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former.
故去彼取此。