Translation: Therefore, only by knowing that desires are moderate and not greedy can we maintain long-term satisfaction.

From Chapter 46 of Lao Tzu's "Tao Te Ching" during the Spring and Autumn Period

Original text: There is a way in the world, but horses use dung to run around. There is no way in the world, and soldiers and horses are born in the suburbs. No disaster is greater than dissatisfaction; no fault is greater than desire. Therefore, knowing what is enough is always enough.

Translation:

If the ruler follows the laws of Tao to govern the world, he can send his war horses back to the fields to plow the dung fields; if he does not follow the laws of Tao to govern the world, his war horses will The foal was born on a battlefield in the countryside. There is no greater sin than indulgence of desire, no greater harm than insatiability, and no greater fault than covetousness. Therefore, only by knowing that desires have limits and not being greedy can we maintain long-term satisfaction. Extended information

This chapter mainly reflects Laozi’s anti-war thoughts. During the Spring and Autumn Period, princes fought for hegemony, and mergers and plundering wars continued year after year, causing heavy disasters to social production and the lives of the people. In this regard, Lao Tzu clearly expressed his opinion. He analyzed the cause of the war and believed that the rulers were too greedy.

Then the solution to the problem is to require the rulers to be content with what they have. This view is understandable, but he did not clearly distinguish the nature of the war, because the wars at that time included slave owners and nobles annexing political power to each other, and some were landlords. The war to overthrow the rule of slave owners after the rise of the class, and the resistance struggle of the working people. Therefore, in this chapter, there are two problems with the views expressed by Laozi. One is the root cause of war; the other is that there is no distinction between wars.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Tao Te Ching · Contentment with Contentment