Chapter 12
Guarding the Senses
五色令人目盲；
五音令人耳聋；
五味令人口爽；
驰骋畋猎令人心发狂；
难得之货令人行妨。
是以圣人为腹不为目，故去彼取此。
James Legge · 1891 · Public domain
1.
Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take;
Music's five notes the ears as deaf can make;
The flavours five deprive the mouth of taste;
The chariot course, and the wild hunting waste
Make mad the mind; and objects rare and strange,
Sought for, men's conduct will to evil change.
2. Therefore the sage seeks to satisfy (the craving of) the belly, and not the (insatiable longing of the) eyes. He puts from him the latter, and prefers to seek the former.