治理天下合乎“道”,就可以作到太平安定,把戰(zhàn)馬退還到田間給農(nóng)夫用來耕種。治理天下不合乎“道”,連懷胎的母馬也要送上戰(zhàn)場,在戰(zhàn)場的郊外生下馬駒子。最大的禍害是不知足,最大的過失是貪得的欲望。知道到什么地步就該滿足了的人,永遠(yuǎn)是滿足的。
第四十六章
天下有道,
卻走馬以糞;
天下無道,
戎馬生于郊。
禍莫大于不知足,
咎莫大于欲得。
故知足之足,
常足矣。
Chapter 46
When the Way rules the world,
Coach horses fertilize 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.