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11 related chapters for “desire”
Quieting desire
不尚贤，使民不争。
Not to value and employ men of superior ability is the way to keep the people from rivalry among themselves; not to prize articles which are difficult to…
Read chapterThe way and its name
道可道，非常道，名可名，非常名。
The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name. (Conceived of as)…
Read chapterApart from the crowd
绝学无忧，唯之与阿，相去几何？善之与恶，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。
20. When we renounce learning we have no troubles. The (ready) 'yes,' and (flattering) 'yea;'-- Small is the difference they display. But mark their…
Read chapterYield and remain whole
曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则得，多则惑。
The partial becomes complete; the crooked, straight; the empty, full; the worn out, new. He whose (desires) are few gets them; he whose (desires) are many…
Read chapterActing without forcing
道常无为而无不为。
The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it), and so there is nothing which it does not do. If princes and kings were able to…
Read chapterThe lower position
大国者下流，天下之交。
What makes a great state is its being (like) a low-lying, down-flowing (stream);--it becomes the centre to which tend (all the small states) under heaven.…
Read chapterA journey of a thousand miles
其安易持，其未兆易谋。
That which is at rest is easily kept hold of; before a thing has given indications of its presence, it is easy to take measures against it; that which is…
Read chapterThe five colours
五色令人目盲，五音令人耳聋，五味令人口爽，驰骋畋猎令人心发狂，难得之货令人行妨。
Colour's five hues from th' eyes their sight will take; Music's five notes the ears as deaf can make; The flavours five deprive the mouth of taste; The…
Read chapterSimplicity and sincerity
绝圣弃智，民利百倍。
If we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom, it would be better for the people a hundredfold. If we could renounce our benevolence and…
Read chapterKnowing what is enough
名与身孰亲？身与货孰多？得与亡孰病？是故甚爱必大费，多藏必厚亡，知足不辱，知止不殆，可以长久。
44. Or fame or life, Which do you hold more dear? Or life or wealth, To which would you adhere? Keep life and lose those other things; Keep them and lose…
Read chapterEnough is enough
天下有道，却走马以粪。
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…
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