立戒章第四十四
Key Takeaway: "He who knows contentment suffers no disgrace; he who knows when to stop meets no danger. Thus he can endure." — Laozi, Daodejing Chapter 44
Fame or your authentic life—which is closer? Wealth or your health—which is dearer? Excessive affection invites severe depletion; hoarding vast treasures ensures grievous loss. Contentment shields from ruin—a foundational perspective explored in Daodejing Chapter 44 Translation.
Daodejing Chapter 44 Translation: He Who Knows Contentment Suffers No Disgrace; He Who Knows When to Stop Endures
The wisdom of Daodejing Chapter 44 Translation addresses a fundamental human dynamic: how we navigate ambition, quietude, and the natural flow of existence. In the classical tradition, this passage serves as both a metaphysical mirror and a practical compass for daily living and leadership. Explore how this principle translates into contemporary daily life in our guide to Beyond Success: What If the Price Is You?.
By shifting our focus from outer coercion to internal stillness, we uncover a more resilient way of relating to ourselves and the world around us.
Complete Chapter Translation: Modern Western Reading
Fame or one's own self, which matters to one most? One's own self or things bought, which should count most? In the getting or the losing, which is worse?
Hence he who grudges expense pays dearest in the end; He who has hoarded most will suffer the heaviest loss. Be content with what you have and are, and no one can despoil you; Who stops in time nothing can harm.
He is forever safe and secure.
道德经中文原文与对照
【原文】 名與身孰親？身與貨孰多？得與亡孰病？甚愛必大費；多藏必厚亡。故知足不辱，知止不殆，可以長久。
核心要义解析 (Philosophical Insights)
- 道义发微：本章通过“立戒章第四十四”阐发了《道德经》的核心精髓。从“有”与“无”、“动”与“静”的辩证转化中，提醒我们在日用常行中摒弃过度的功利执念，回归纯粹本真的生命状态。
- 现代启示：当外界喧嚣与评判标准不断施加压力时，保持内心的虚静与不争，反而是最强大的定力与智慧。
Follow the sequential development of the text in Laozi’s next philosophical movement in Vast Virtue: Greatest Perfection Appears Imperfect and Flawed.
For a deeper comparative examination of these ideas, explore our related study on The Virtue of Humility: The Great Nation as the Low Reaches of a River.
