Quieting desire

Caolu has already explained this fully; I will add a further comment. Laozi's intention is profound. The country that values the worthy has many ills, and treasuring difficult-to-obtain goods brings suffering to the people due to thievery. By 'many ills,' I mean this: suppose a state has honest and good ministers and the realm is securely settled, yet the ruler still makes a special display of esteeming worthies. People are deceitful, and the appearance of worthiness can be learned. [The connective wording of this sentence is uncertain in the source.] Once they are able to feign it, if they become intimate with the ruler in the future, the pure and good ministers will either be harmed or leave. Therefore, Laozi says: not seeing what is desirable makes the people not chaotic. In general, making the people not know the prestige attached to worthies or the rarity attached to wealth and goods makes the world peaceful. The sage always maintains a simple and frugal way of life, and does not enrich his own person, making the people rich and filling their bellies. When the people are rich, the foundation of the country is solid. However, one must not rely on the people's wealth and the country's strength, for this will give rise to other troubles. This is what is meant by filling the belly, weakening the will, and strengthening the bones. Making the people have no knowledge and no desires is the same as the previous text, which says not to value the worthy and not to treasure difficult-to-obtain goods, resulting in the people not seeing and not being greedy. Once one knows that the country does not value the worthy, even if one knows what is admirable, one will not dare to do it. All things have been carefully managed and reasonably done. Once things are at peace, there is no need for action.