Symbolism

You have a bone and you have a dog

Wave the bone in front of the dog's face

Watch the dog enthusiastically reach for the bone as you snatch it away

Sooner or later the dog gets tired 

The light in his eyes starts to dull

You then give the dog the bone

But the dog is tired and worn

Exhausting the dog eliminates his want for the bone 

The dog forgets his purpose of wanting the bone in the first place