Chapter 3

不尚賢，使民不爭；
不貴難得之貨，使民不為盜；
不見可欲，使民心不亂。
是以聖人之治，虛其心，實其腹，弱其志，強其骨。
常使民無知無欲。
使夫智者不敢為也。
為無為，則無不治。

When the worthy are not exalted, the people do not contend;
when goods hard to come by are not prized, the people do not steal;
when what can be desired is not displayed, the people’s hearts are not stirred.
So the sage governs by emptying their hearts and filling their bellies, weakening their wills and strengthening their bones.
He always keeps the people without knowing and without desire,
and sees that the clever do not dare to act.
Do what is not doing, and nothing will be left ungoverned.