Without Shang Xian, the people will not dispute;

Expensive and rare goods, so that people do not steal;

If you can't see what you want, you won't be chaotic.

It is the rule of saints: hollowing out their hearts, strengthening their bellies, weakening their aspirations and strengthening their bones.

It often makes people ignorant and have no desire, so that the virtuous dare not do it.

If you do nothing, you will die.

explain

(1) There is no Shang Xian, which makes people indisputable: "Shang Xian" advocates talent and ability, which encourages people to become famous, promotes the differentiation and specialization of social groups, and makes society deviate from chaos and anonymity. "No Shang Xian" is a measure to keep the society chaotic and anonymous by not encouraging the differentiation and specialization of social groups.

(2) goods that are neither expensive nor rare will prevent people from stealing: "expensive and rare goods" means attaching importance to rare and expensive things, which makes the supply of scarce resources in society more tense. The excessive shortage of resources urges people to frequently violate the common rules of the game and steal. "Good quality and low price" means asking rulers not to aggravate the shortage of resources supply and not to pursue a luxurious life that requires a lot of manpower and material resources. Laozi's thought of linking the people as thieves with the insufficient supply of social resources was inherited and developed by Han Feizi.

(3) Empty the heart: the main control center of the system is the "heart". "hollowing out one's own heart" means removing all kinds of prejudices that play a leading role in the system. In Laozi's Taoist theory, it is a kind of "happiness" to abandon wisdom and holiness and weaken the dominant position of rulers.

(4) Solid abdomen: "Abdomen" is a metaphor for the survival function of actors. To engage in basic economic construction and meet the people's food and clothing needs is to "strengthen the abdomen."

(5) Weaken one's ambition: that is, soften the persistent pursuit of actors.

(6) Strong bones: "bones" refers to the basic support of the system, and refers to improving the self-reliance and self-sufficiency of actors.

(7) Ignorance and no desire: "modesty" means "ignorance" and "weak will" means "no desire". "Make the people ignorant and have no desire" means that even if the people are not biased, there will be no greed.

(8) Wise man: Wisdom, like knowledge at that time, is an authoritative prejudice, which has a "shining" effect on the public in a certain social period. Wise men are biased authorities and have certain influence and appeal in society.

(9) inaction: this is for the whole society. As far as society as a whole is concerned, "inaction" refers to the artificial social shaping, or the stubborn maintenance of some "isms", which does not promote the differentiation and specialization of social groups, keeps the society chaotic and anonymous, and the ability to follow the trend.

[translation]

If there is no praise for talented people in society, it will not lead to civil competition. If precious things are not considered precious by everyone, then people will not steal and show off things that cause greed, and it will not lead to people's confusion.

Therefore, the sage's principle of governing the country is: to make the people humble, to make the people have ample food and clothing, to make the people have no ambition, to make the people strong, and to form a fashion of modesty and prudence, not to show off, and to live and work in peace and contentment. Even some "smart people" dare not "take the world by storm". Saints do things in accordance with the principle of "inaction" and conform to nature, then

The "inaction" here has a specific meaning, not inaction. "Governing by doing nothing" means that your behavior has reached the realm of "doing nothing", and there is nothing in the world that you can't cure.

Extended data:

Brief introduction of the author

Lao Zi, surnamed Li Minger, is called Bo Yang. Huaxia nationality, a native of Qurenli, Li Xiang, an ancient county of Chu, was a great philosopher and thinker in the Spring and Autumn Period and the founder of the Taoist school. Laozi is a world cultural celebrity, one of the world's 100 historical celebrities, and has the classic Tao Te Ching. The essence of his works is simple dialectics, and his theory has a far-reaching impact on the development of China's philosophy. In Taoism, Laozi is regarded as the ancestor of Taoism. Laozi and Zhuangzi of later generations are also called Zhuang zi.

References:

Tao Te Ching _ Baidu Encyclopedia