1. 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 breed in the border lands.

2. there is no guilt greater than to sanction ambition; no calamity greater than to be discontented with one's lot; no fault greater than the wish to be getting. therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.

天下有道，却走马以粪；

天下无道，戎马生于郊。

祸莫大于不知足，咎莫大于欲得。

故知足之足，常足矣。

【译文】

国家的运行合于道，连战马都可以还田耕种；国家的运行不合于道，战马只能在战场的恶劣环境生产。祸害莫大于不懂得自我满足，罪过莫大于偏执性的贪求。所以，懂得自我满足的富足，是长久的富足。