第七十五章
Chapter 75
民之饥，以其上食税之多，是以饥。民之难治，以其上之有为，是以难治。民之轻死，以其求生之厚，是以轻死。夫唯无以生为者，是贤于贵生。
The people are hungry because those above consume too much in taxes — this is why they are hungry. The people are hard to govern because those above interfere too much — this is why they are hard to govern. The people treat death lightly because those above pursue life's pleasures too intensely — this is why they treat death lightly. Indeed, those who do not strive for life are wiser than those who value life excessively.
白话译文
百姓之所以饥饿，是因为统治者征收的税赋太多，所以百姓才会饥饿。百姓之所以难以治理，是因为统治者过于有为，所以才难以治理。百姓之所以不怕死，是因为统治者过分追求奢侈的生活，所以百姓才不怕死。只有那些不过分追求生活享受的人，才比那些看重生活享受的人高明。
AI 解读
三个因果关系直指社会问题的根源都在统治者身上：民饥因赋重，民乱因有为，民轻死因上厚生。老子犀利地指出，所有民间问题都是统治阶层问题的投射。解决之道不在于约束百姓，而在于统治者自身的节制与无为。