# Incentives that intensify rivalry: summary

Links exaggerated status and scarce possessions to rivalry and desire, then discusses non-forcing governance.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/laozi/chapter-03-incentives-that-intensify-rivalry

## Source and summary

[Laozi · Dao De Jing · Incentives that intensify rivalry](https://zh.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E7%B6%93%20%28%E7%8E%8B%E5%BC%BC%E6%9C%AC%29&oldid=2354026#%E4%B8%89%E7%AB%A0)

> 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。

Links exaggerated status and scarce possessions to rivalry and desire, then discusses non-forcing governance.

## Editorial interpretation

The example below adapts this chapter’s questions to modern work. Evaluate it against the actual purpose and conditions; ancient politics, warfare or ethics do not establish business results.

## Business application

If rankings damage cooperation, include team contributions and effective handoffs in evaluation.

1. Choose one relevant case and record its objective, available resources, verified facts and unknowns.
2. Compare options using this chapter’s perspective; choose a limited trial, owner, deadline and a measure to assess the result.

Deliverable: A comparison using incentives that intensify rivalry, with conditions for acting or declining.

## Limits

The summary selects main points rather than translating every sentence. The example is not a demonstrated business method; check it against stakeholders’ conditions and actual evidence.

## Validation question

How does this chapter’s perspective change the selected option or priority, and what further evidence could change the decision?

[Laozi: a guide to the Dao De Jing](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/laozi)

[This material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/laozi/chapter-03-incentives-that-intensify-rivalry.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0