The meaning of this sentence is to empty the people's minds, fill the people's bellies, weaken the people's competitive intentions, and strengthen the people's muscles and bones.

From: Chapter 3 of Laozi's philosophical work "Tao Te Ching" during the Spring and Autumn Period. The original text is as follows:

This is the rule of the sage, empty his heart, strengthen his belly, and weaken his body. Ambition strengthens the bones and always makes the people ignorant and desireless.

Translation: Therefore, the governance principle of the sage is: empty the people's minds, fill the people's bellies, weaken the people's competitive intentions, strengthen the people's muscles and bones, often making the people have no wisdom and no ability. desire.

In this chapter, Laozi advocates "not respecting the virtuous" and "making the people ignorant and desireless". He imagines that people should return to a state of "inaction" without contradiction. However, the material civilization and spiritual civilization of human society must continue to develop and improve, so this idea of ??Lao Tzu is impossible to realize and is negative.

Extended information:

"Tao Te Ching", a philosophical work by Lao Tzu (Li Er) during the Spring and Autumn Period, also known as "Tao Te Ching", "Lao Tzu" and "Five Thousand Words" , "Laozi's Five Thousand Essays" is a work written by the ancient Chinese pre-Qin scholars before they split up. It is an important source of Taoist philosophical thought.

The "Tao Te Ching" discusses the ways of self-cultivation, governing the country, using military force, and maintaining health, and mostly takes politics as its purpose. It is the so-called "sage within and king outside". It is profound and comprehensive, and is praised as He is the king of scriptures. The Tao Te Ching is one of the greatest masterpieces in Chinese history and has had a profound impact on traditional philosophy, science, politics, religion, etc. It has had a profound impact on Chinese philosophy, science, politics, religion, etc., and embodies a world view and outlook on life of the ancient Chinese.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Tao Te Ching