Religion
Chapter 46
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
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.
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.
This translation is printed as prose in its source edition.
Codex Note
Prose translation of a largely rhymed original, with occasional rhymed renderings by Legge; words in parentheses are his supplied additions.
Cite this poem
MLA
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 46.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/45/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 46.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/45/.
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