俭欲 · 知足之足常足

Jiǎn Yù

Classical Chinese Text

天下有道，却走马以粪，天下无道，戎马生于郊。祸莫大于不知足；咎莫大于欲得。故知足之足，常足矣。

Translation & Meaning

天下遵循大道而清明安定时，战马都退归田间用来耕种施肥；天下背离大道而争伐不休时，连怀胎的母马都要在荒郊战场上产驹服役。 世间最大的灾祸莫过于贪得无厌、不知满足；最大的过失莫过于攫取占有、欲壑难填。 所以懂得内心知足的那份富足，才是永恒不匮的真正富足。

Commentary

青禾散人评注：外物之多寡永远填不满比较之心；唯有“知足之足”，从内在确认本自具足，方能在任何境遇中立享丰盛。

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 天 (tiān): heaven / nature / cosmos
  • 下 (xià): under / earthly realm / humble
  • 有 (yǒu): manifest being / cosmos / to possess
  • 道 (dào): The Way / Logos / to speak
  • 却 (què): classical character (què)
  • 走 (zǒu): classical character (zǒu)
  • 马 (mǎ): classical character (mǎ)
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 粪 (fèn): classical character (fèn)
  • 无 (wú): formless void / non-being / without
  • 戎 (róng): classical character (róng)
  • 生 (shēng): give birth to / arise
  • 于 (yú): to / at / in
  • 郊 (jiāo): classical character (jiāo)
  • 祸 (huò): classical character (huò)
  • 莫 (mò): classical character (mò)
  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 足 (zú): classical character (zú)
  • 咎 (jiù): classical character (jiù)
  • 欲 (yù): intent / desire / craving
  • 得 (dé): obtain / acquire / gain
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 之 (zhī): particle: of / possessive / it
  • 常 (cháng): constant / dynamic invariable
  • 矣 (yǐ): [modal particle of realization]