第44章 · 原文
现代白话译文
名声与生命相比哪个亲切？生命与货利相比哪个贵重？得到与失去相比哪个有害？过分爱惜必招致巨大的破费，过多的贮藏必招致惨重的损失。所以知道满足就不会受屈辱，知道适可而止就不会有危险，这样可以长久。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
Your name or your person, Which is dearer? Your person or your goods, Which is worth more? Gain or loss, Which is a greater bane? That is why excessive meanness Is sure to lead to great expense; Too much store Is sure to end in immense loss. Know contentment And you will suffer no disgrace; Know when to stop And you will meet with no danger. You can then endure.
Robert Henricks
1. Fame or your body — which is more dear? 2. Your body or possessions — which is worth more? 3. Gain or loss — in which is there harm? 4. If your desires are great, you're bound to be extravagant; 5. If your store much away, you're bound to lose a great deal. 6. Therefore, if you know contentment, you'll not be disgraced. 7. If you know when to stop, you'll suffer no harm. 8. And in this way you can last a very long time.
Addiss & Lombardo
Fame and life, which is more dear? Life and wealth, which is more important? Gaining and losing, which is more harmful? Therefore excessive love must cost greatly. Much storage must suffer heavy loss. Knowing contentment avoids disgrace. Knowing when to stop avoids danger. One can endure long.
Arthur Waley
Fame or one's own self, which matters to one most? One's own self or things bought, which should count most? In the getting or the losing, which is worse? Hence he who grudges expense pays dearest in the end; He who has hoarded most will suffer the heaviest loss. Be content with what you have and are, and no one can despoil you; Who stops in time nothing can harm. He is forever safe and secure.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
Fame or integrity: which is more important? Money or happiness: which is more valuable? Success of 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.