Tao Te Ching – Verse 46
When the world has the Tao
Fast horses are retired to till the soil
When the world lacks the Tao
Warhorses give birth on the battlefield
There is no crime greater than greed
No disaster greater than discontentment
No fault greater than avarice
Thus the satisfaction of contentment
is the lasting satisfaction
(translation by Derek Lin, 2006)
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When a country is in harmony with the Tao,
the factories make trucks and tractors.
When a country goes counter to the Tao,
warheads are stockpiled outside the cities.
There is no greater illusion than fear,
no greater wrong than preparing to defend yourself, no greater misfortune than having an enemy.
Whoever can see through all fear
will always be safe.
(translation by Stephen Mitchell, 1995)
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Wanting Nothing,
One obtains the goal of everything:
Contented peace.
(translation by Jeremy M. Miller, 2013)
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from I Ching Online