Tao Te Ching – Verse 44
Fame or integrity: which is more important?
Money or happiness: which is more valuable?
Success or failure: which is more destructive?
If you look to others for fulfillment,
you will never truly be fulfilled.
If your happiness depends on money,
you will never be happy with yourself.
Be content with what you have;
rejoice in the way things are.
When you realize there is nothing lacking,
the whole world belongs to you.
(translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995)
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Fame or the self, which is dearer?
The self or wealth, which is greater?
Gain or loss, which is more painful?
Thus excessive love must lead to great spending
Excessive hoarding must lead to heavy loss
Knowing contentment avoids disgrace
Knowing when to stop avoids danger
Thus one can endure indefinitely
(translation by Derek Lin, 2006)
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Choose: the world or your self; only one.
Choose: possessions in the world or in the heart, only one.
Gain and loss are the two painful sides of the sword
That should have been left alone.
Money-lust creates feelings of poverty.
If one owns things, count that value as the inevitable loss.
Owning Zero, one is content.
The quest of materiality can be stopped and peace restored.
(translation by Jeremy M. Miller, 2013)
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from I Ching Online
