Tao Te Ching Chapter 60

 

Rule a big country as you would fry small fish.

Who rules the world in accord with Tao

Shall find that the spirits lose their power.

It is not that the spirits lose their power,

But that they cease to do people harm.

It is not (only) that they cease to do people harm,

The Sage (himself) also does no harm to the people.

When both do not do each other harm,

The original character is restored.