Sunday, December 11, 2011

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, Chapter 46

Dao De Jing, Laozi
Chapter 46


"When the Tao is present in the universe,
The horses haul manure.
When the Tao is absent from the universe,
War horses are bred outside the city.
There is no greater sin than desire,
No greater curse than discontent,
No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself.
Therefore he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough."
-  Translated by Jane English, Chapter 46 



"When the world follows Tao,
racehorses work on farms.
When the world forsakes Tao,
cavalry horses practice in parks.
The greatest curse is discontent.
It is the greatest misery.
The greatest sin is selfish striving.
Being content with contentment
is to be always satisfied."
-   Translated by C. Ganson, Chapter 46  


When the world follows Tao,
the horses haul manure.
When the world abandoned Tao.
War horses run wild.
There is no greater sin than unable to be satisfied.
No greater misfortune than wanting and wanting.
Thus, he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough."
-   Translated by Tienzen Gong, Chapter 46 


"When the world yields to Tao, race horses will be used to haul manure.
When the world ignores Tao war horses are pastured on the public common.
There is no sin greater than desire.
There is no misfortune greater than discontent.
There is no calamity greater than acquisitiveness.
Therefore to know extreme contentment is simply to be content."
-   Translated by Dwight Goddard, 1919, Chapter 46 



"When the Way rules the world,
Coach horses fertilize the fields;
When the Way does not rule,
War horses breed in the parks.
No sin can exceed
Incitement to envy;
No calamity's worse
Than to be discontented,
Nor is there an omen
More dreadful than coveting.
But once be contented,
And truly you'll always be so."
-   Translated by Raymond B. Blakney, Chapter 46   


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