Whoever acts in accordance with principles and reason cannot fail. On a grand scale, one may attain the supreme authority of the Son of Heaven; on a smaller scale, one may readily gain the rewards and salaries of high ministers and generals.
Those who abandon principles and act recklessly will lose their people and wealth, even if they possess the high rank of emperors or feudal lords above, and riches equal to Yi Dun, Tao Zhu, or diviners below.
Ordinary people lightly discard principles and act carelessly, unaware how profound fortune and misfortune are, and how vast and far‑reaching the Dao is. Hence people are advised: “Fully understand the ultimate truth of things.”
All people desire wealth, honor, wholeness and longevity, yet none escape the misfortunes of poverty, low status and early death. Though their hearts long for prosperity and long life, they end up poor and short‑lived, unable to reach what they seek.
To stray from the path to one’s goals and act blindly is to be lost; lost, one cannot achieve one’s desires. Since ordinary people cannot attain what they wish for, they are called “lost.”
People have been unable to reach their desired goals since heaven and earth were separated. Hence it is said: “People have long been lost.”
Note
This passage presents a fundamental rule: success depends on following objective principles, not power or wealth alone. Human failure stems from long‑term deviation from reason and reckless conduct.
Late Warring‑States Legalist philosopher. This passage is from Explaining Laozi (Jie Lao), his commentary on the Dao De Jing. He transforms abstract Daoist cosmic principles into practical rules for personal and political success.
Yi Dun vs. Tao Zhu
Two legendary wealthy men of ancient China, famous for accumulating immense fortune through business, used as symbols of extreme wealth.
Lord Tao Zhu was the other name of Fan Li, a legendary Chinese businessman, politician, and strategist who lived during the late Spring and Autumn period (around 5th century BCE). After a successful career helping King Goujian of Yue defeat the state of Wu, Fan Li retired from politics and became a merchant under the alias “Lord Tao Zhu.”
Fan Li is regarded as Yi Dun’s teacher and benefactor because he once gave Yi Dun guidance on business strategies, particularly advising him to raise livestock in a suitable location.
Acting by Principle
Han Fei defines the Dao as practical objective principles governing human affairs; following them guarantees success, while reckless action leads to ruin regardless of initial power or wealth.
People’s Long‑Standing Confusion
A core Dao De Jing statement interpreted by Han Fei: humanity has long wandered from the natural way, chasing desires without rational guidance.
Legalist Pragmatism
Wealth, rank and long life are achievable only through rational adherence to principles, not blind wishful thinking or impulsive action.
夫緣道理以從事者無不能成。無不能成者，大能成天子之勢尊，而小易得卿相將軍之賞祿。夫棄道理而忘舉動者，雖上有天子諸侯之勢尊，而下有猗頓、陶朱、卜祝之富，猶失其民人而亡其財資也。眾人之輕棄道理而易忘舉動者，不知其禍福之深大而道闊遠若是也，故諭人曰：「熟知其極。」人莫不欲富貴全壽，而未有能免於貧賤死夭之禍也，心欲富貴全壽，而今貧賤死夭，是不能至於其所欲至也。凡失其所欲之路而妄行者之謂迷，迷則不能至於其所欲至矣。今眾人之不能至於其所欲至，故曰「迷」。眾人之所不能至於其所欲至也，自天地之剖判以至于今，故曰：「人之迷也，其日故以久矣。
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