| Original | English Translation |
|---|---|
| When there is a Way under heaven, | |
| horses are run for manure. | |
| When there is no Way under heaven, | |
| war horses are bred in the outskirts. | |
| No calamity is greater than not knowing contentment; | |
| no fault is greater than the desire to gain. | |
| Therefore, the sufficiency of contentment | |
| is always sufficient. |
sky; heaven; nature; fate; day
below; down; descend; next; subordinate
have; possess; exist; there is/are; present
road; path; way; method; principle; to speak; to lead
retreat; turn back; however; yet; refuse
walk; go; depart; run
horse; steed; ride; chariot team
by means of; use; because; so as to; in order to
excrement; dung; manure; fertilize; worthless
not; without; nothing; lacking; void
arms; military; war; the Rong people
birth; life; grow; produce; raw; inexperienced
in; at; on; from; to; than; regarding
outskirts; suburbs; countryside near city; outlying
misfortune; calamity; disaster; to bring harm
do not; no one; nothing; none
big; large; great; adult; major; high-ranking
not; no; un-; non=
know; recognize; understand; knowledge; wisdom
foot; sufficient; enough; to suffice
fault; blame; error; reproach; punish
desire; want; intend; be about to; appetite
obtain; get; achieve; be able to; succeed
cause; reason; former; old; therefore
it, him, her, them; of; 's; go to; reach
frequent; constant; ordinary; habitual; eternal
final particle; completion; change of state; assertion; already; now