Fame or Life

知足不辱

Zhī Zú Bù Rǔ

Fame or your life — which is closer to you? Whatever is loved too much costs more than it is worth; and to know how much is enough is never to be shamed.

All 81 chapters44 of 81

7 sentences · 3 notes

名míng与yǔ身shēn孰shú亲qīn？

1Or fame or life, Which do you hold more dear?

身shēn与yǔ货huò孰shú多duō？

2Or life or wealth, To which would you adhere?

得dé与yǔ亡wáng孰shú病bìng？

3Keep life and lose those other things; Keep them and lose your life:--which brings Sorrow and pain more near?

甚shèn爱ài必bì大dà费fèi；多duō藏cáng必bì厚hòu亡wáng。

4Thus we may see, Who cleaves to fame Rejects what is more great; Who loves large stores Gives up the richer state.

故gù知zhī足zú不bù辱rǔ，知zhī止zhǐ不bù殆dài，可kě以yǐ长cháng久jiǔ。

5Who is content Needs fear no shame.

6Who knows to stop Incurs no blame.

7From danger free Long live shall he.

Chinese commentary · 3 notes

The notes printed with this chapter in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.

1多：重视、尊重。

2亡：失去、丢失。

3爱：吝惜，舍不得。

All 81 chapters

Read this chapter in Chinese · 知足不辱