Not exalting the worthy causes people not to emulate.
Not prizing the difficult to obtain of treasures causes people not to commit theft.
Not seeing [that which is] able [to elicit] desire, causes the heart not to be disturbed.
Therefore the holy man of the government empties [the people's] hearts,
fills their stomachs, [the inner, the soul]
fills their stomachs, [the inner, the soul]
he weakens their desire [but] strengthens their bones.
Always he causes people not to know,
not to be desirous.
He causes those knowing ones not to dare to act, indeed.
[When] he does not-doing then there is nothing not governed.