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.

五色令人目盲；五音令人耳聾；五味令人口爽；馳騁畋獵，令人心發狂；難得之貨，令人行妨。

是以圣人為腹不為目，故去彼取此。

【译文】

缤纷的色彩使人眼花缭乱；嘈杂的音声使人听觉失灵；浓厚的杂味使人味觉受伤；纵情猎掠使人心思放荡发狂；稀有的物品使人行于不轨。因此，圣人致力于基本的维生事务，不耽乐于感官的享乐。所以要有所取舍。