Ordinary people use their spirit restlessly; restlessness causes excessive expenditure, which is called extravagance.
Sages use their spirit calmly; calmness reduces expenditure, which is called frugality.
This art of frugality arises from natural principles and reason.
To practice frugality is to follow the Dao and obey inherent principles.
Ordinary people fall into troubles and disasters yet refuse to retreat or abide by principles.
Even before disasters appear, sages obey principles with empty tranquility, which is called early compliance with the Dao.
Hence the saying: “Frugality means early compliance with the Dao.”
Note
This passage emphasizes a preventive principle: calm spiritual frugality enables early compliance with natural principles; restless extravagance leads people into avoidable misfortune.
Late Warring‑States Legalist philosopher. This passage is excerpted from Explaining Laozi (Jie Lao), his commentary on the Dao De Jing. He interprets Daoist spiritual frugality as proactive compliance with natural principles to avoid disaster.
Restlessness vs Calmness
Ordinary people waste spirit through restless anxiety; sages conserve spirit through tranquil stillness, a core Daoist‑Legalist psychological distinction.
Frugality as Principle‑Following
Han Fei redefines frugality not only as mental conservation but as obedience to the Dao and reason, turning self‑cultivation into rational statecraft.
Early Compliance
To follow the Dao before misfortune manifests, a preventive strategy against disaster favored by both Daoism and Legalism.
眾人之用神也躁，躁則多費，多費之謂侈。聖人之用神也靜，靜則少費，少費之謂嗇。嗇之謂術也生於道理。夫能嗇也，是從於道而服於理者也。眾人離於患，陷於禍，猶未知退，而不服從道理。聖人雖未見禍患之形，虛無服從於道理，以稱蚤服。故曰：「夫謂嗇，是以蚤服。」
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