为学日益，为道目损，损之又损，以至于无为。无为而无不为。
《老子》第48章
The pursuit of learning may lead to the increase of desires day after day. The pursuit of the Tao is aimed at decreasing desires day after day. Decreasing and decreasing again , till one has reached non-action, Non-action, and yet there is nothing that is not done by it.
[注释]
为学:研究学同，指仁义礼智等学问。益:增加。损:减少。
老子认为外在的经验知识(仁义礼智等)积累愈多，私欲妄见也就层出不穷。只有“为道”，才能不断去除私欲安见，使人目渐返朴归真，最终达到“无力”的境地。
[译文]
研究学问，情欲就会一天一天地增加;研究“道”，情欲就会一天一天地减少，减少再减少，最后达到清静无为地境界。清静无为反而能够成就一切事物。