Chapter 75

民之飢，以其上食稅之多，是以飢。
民之難治，以其上之有為，是以難治。
民之輕死，以其上求生之厚，是以輕死。
夫唯無以生為者，是賢於貴生。

The people are hungry because those above them eat too much in taxes; that is why they are hungry.
The people are hard to govern because those above them are always doing things; that is why they are hard to govern.
The people take death lightly because those above them make too much of living; that is why they take death lightly.
Only one who does nothing for the sake of living is wiser than one who prizes life.