Chapter 46 · When the Tao Prevails

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

Learn the Dao: a quiet practice for learning the thing that can’t be known.

The chapter’s first line

When the Tao prevails in the world,

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This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

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.

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Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is — missed an enduring and unchanging sufficiency

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Chapter 46, in a second rendering

Warhorses Hauling Manure

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

When the Dao's running, they put the warhorses out to haul manure. When it isn't, they're breeding cavalry out past the fence line. Nothing wrecks you like not knowing when you have enough. Nothing costs you like the itch to grab more. So the person who knows that enough is enough has enough - and that kind of enough actually lasts.

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