Chapter 46

Contentment

天(tiān)下(xià)有(yǒu)道(dào)，却(què)走(zǒu)马(mǎ)以(yǐ)粪(fèn)；

天(tiān)下(xià)无(wú)道(dào)，戎(róng)马(mǎ)生(shēng)于(yú)郊(jiāo)。

祸(huò)莫(mò)大(dà)于(yú)不(bù)知(zhī)足(zú)；

咎(jiù)莫(mò)大(dà)于(yú)欲(yù)得(dé)。

故(gù)知(zhī)足(zú)之(zhī)足(zú)，常(cháng)足(zú)矣(yǐ)。

James Legge · 1891 · Public domain

1. When the Tao prevails in the world, they send back their swift horses to (draw) the dung-carts. When the Tao is disregarded in the world, the war-horses breed in the border lands.

2. There is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.

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