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Strengthens their bones
Let the people have no cunning and no greed
So those who scheme will not dare to meddle
Act without contrivance
And nothing will be beyond control
When we glorify achievers and set them aside for special treatment； people will compete aggressively and step over one another to achieve that glory。 Similarly； when we place a high value on certain goods； there will be those who plot to take them by force or by trickery。
This determination of value can be rather arbitrary。 For instance； what intrinsic goodness does gold have that makes it so much more valuable than other metals？ What is so great about gold other than a particular number that people determine and agree upon？
In general； whenever we point to anything as desirable； a wave of disruption ripples through society。 People begin to think of ways to get more of the desirable thing； often at the expense of others。
Because of this； a sagacious ruler would refrain from setting aside certain individuals for glorification； or designating certain goods as extremely valuable and putting them on display。 These are sure…fire ways of stimulating materialistic desire； which is a bottomless pit。
While the sages empty people's hearts of desires and weaken their ambitions for fame； glory； or material wealth； they would also pay particular attention to the basic needs。 As rulers； the sage kings would see to it that the people do not go hungry and enjoy good health。 As teachers； the sages would give people teachings that provide spiritual sustenance and promote spiritual health。
When people follow the way of the sages； the few who scheme and plot will find themselves unable to utilize their repertoire of clever ploys。 The governance of the sages leaves no room for their contrived tactics； and everything falls into place peacefully and naturally。
Notes
The process described in this chapter … showcasing certain things as valuable and thus stimulating demand … is the basis of advertising and modern consumerism。 Every day we see an endless parade of colorful； shiny products in front of us； enticing us and encouraging purchase。 Not enough money？ No problem！ All major credit cards are accepted。 Buy it now and pay no interest until next year。 This is a limited…time offer； so call now！
The trouble； as many people have already discovered； is that the pleasure of materialistic pursuits is fleeting。 We can buy many things； but never lasting satisfaction。 We can be surrounded by many of the colorful and shiny products and still feel a profound sense of emptiness。
The solution to this cannot be found on the Home Shopping Network or in the Sears Catalog。 It is not available by mail order or on the Internet。 You will not see it at the shopping mall or your local stores。 It isn't a colorful and shiny product。 In fact； it isn't a thing at all。
Ultimately； it is what people really want and need。 But because it isn't a thing； it does not look enticing； nor does it encourage purchase or anything else。 It cannot be showcased or paraded in front of people … so some of them may never find it。 It cannot be put on a credit card and there is no financing available。 It doesn't costs anything … so those who do find it may assume it has no value and cast it aside。 They may find it only to let it slip through their fingers。
To those who know what it is； no explanation is necessary。 To those who do not； no explanation will suffice。 Such is the nature of the Tao。
Translation
Quite a few translators render 〃hard…to…obtain goods〃 as 〃rare goods。〃 This is close； but not quite the same thing。 The former is the literal； word…for…word translation； the latter is an interpreted meaning。
Goods that are difficult to acquire may simply have a high price tag； they are not necessarily 〃rare〃 in the sense of being uncommon or hard to find。 For instance； diamond rings are expensive and therefore relatively hard to get； but they are readily available and quite easily found for most people。
In this chapter； Lao Tzu is talking about high…value items （such as jewelry） that are hoarded and thus become the target of thieves。 There is no need to bring in the additional context of rarity into the mix。 Doing so introduces a subtle distortion in the translation； which should be avoided if at all possible。
4
The Tao is empty
Utilize it； it is not filled up
So deep！ It seems to be the source of all things
It blunts the sharpness
Unravels the knots
Dims the glare
Mixes the dusts
So indistinct！ It seems to exist
I do not know whose offspring it is
Its image is the predecessor of God
The Tao is like an empty container that you can fill with water and utilize。 Yet no matter how much you do this； it will never be filled up because its capacity has no limit。 It is a bottomless container； it is infinitely deep。
Despite the emptiness of the Tao； its function is inexhaustible。 This emptiness is not the same as 〃nothingness；〃 for the infinite depths of the Tao conceal the seeds of Creation。 There appears to be nothing in the Tao； and yet it contains everything。
The Tao is eternal。 It outlasts everything。 After millions of year； even the tallest； sharpest mountain peaks will be reduced to gentle rolling hills。 After billions of years； even the brightest stars will burn out and shine no more。 In the course of time； all problems will be resolved one way or another。 The proudest achievements of mankind will be reduced to dust。
The Tao is what we call the source of everything。 It is indistinct … we cannot see it clearly； nor can we understand it completely。 We do not know how the Tao came to be； or if it came from anywhere at all。 Does the ultimate source have a source？ We simply cannot say。
All we can say with certainty is that the Tao embodies the principles of Creation。 Thus； if there is indeed a God who created the universe； the Tao had to be present before the Creation could take place。
Notes
The Tao is empty； utilize it；
It does not fill up。
The emptiness of the Tao； and its function as the source of all things may seem like a contradiction or a paradox； but this idea happens to coincide with the latest scientific thinking about the origin of the universe。
According to many physicists and cosmologists； the Big Bang can be seen as a singularity event where you actually get 〃something〃 from 〃nothing。〃 MIT professor Dr。 Alan Guth expresses it this way： 〃It is said that there's no such thing as a free lunch。 But the universe is the ultimate free lunch。〃
Blunt their sharpness
Unravel their knots
Dull their glare
Mix their dusts
The Tao is the only constant feature in an ever…changing universe。 It has always been there and will always be there。 It is entropy； as expressed by the Second Law of Thermodynamics。 As time marches on； energy becomes increasingly randomized and dispersed； and all things tend to transition from orderly states to disorderly states； everywhere in the universe。
5
Heaven and Earth are without bias
And regard myriad things as straw dogs
The sage is without bias
An