3. If you do not adulate the worthy…
If you do not adulate the worthy, you will make others non-contentious.
If you do not value rare treasures, you will stop others from stealing.
If people do not see desirables, they will not be agitated.
Therefore, when the sage governs,
he clears people’s minds,
Fills their bellies,
Weakens their ambition and
Strengthens their bones.
If the people are kept without cleverness and desire
It will make the intellectuals not dare to meddle.
Acting without contrivance, there is no lack of manageability.
April 5th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Sure discounts the
“Supply & Demand” theory that marketers and advitisers have drummen into our empty little heads doesn’t it?
Most desire(demand) comes to us through marketing, they(Marketers) sure would have a hard time with this one!
~~P’tuny
~~who refuses to buy a “Brand” lable anything, becouse why would she pay a fortune to advertise some product designers name, she thinks that somewhere the tables were turned on us!
April 5th, 2007 at 11:24 am
I have mixed thoughts on this one.
Obviously, it goes to the idea that material things are not good, and desire for these things is even worse. I get that.
But it also seems to advocate mediocrity. “Nice things are bad. Eat your slop and go back to your hovel!”
The “Sage” that these writing refer to is the leader of the people. So in this case, the leader sounds almost Machiavellian. “Fill their bellies and they will follow you.”
April 5th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Personally I read it as “Do not covet, do not be selfish!”
It is okay to “like” and “want”
Mediocrity cannot be contained.
To strive to be better is inherent in the human psyche.
Just do not push it!
Share it, and more will be your reward!