Why does Heaven never allow ordinary people to easily become wealthy? It's not just bad luck; in fact, it's Heaven protecting ordinary people. The Dao De Jing says, "Heaven and Earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs. The sage is not benevolent; he treats the people as straw dogs." Great wealth and high status are always tied to great hardships. If you can't withstand the hardships, Heaven forcibly pushing them onto you is actually harming you. When virtue and moral character are lacking, when understanding of human nature is insufficient, and when comprehension of the Dao is shallow, wealth and honor can instead lead to an inescapable abyss. The Dao De Jing states, "Misfortune is the root of blessing; blessing is the hiding place of misfortune." Heaven's arrangements are more thoughtful than you can imagine.