Chapter 46 — Thrift in desire儉欲
1Running horses are turned back to haul dung
天下有道，卻走馬以糞。
When all under heaven has the Dao, running horses are turned back to haul dung.
note 3
天下有道，知足知止，無求於外，各修其內而已，故卻走馬以治田糞也。
When all under heaven has the Dao, people know what is enough and know when to stop; they seek nothing outside and only cultivate what is within. So running horses are turned back to dung the fields.
謂人主有道也。
This says that the ruler has the Dao.
糞者，糞田也。兵甲不用，卻走馬治農田，治身者卻陽精以糞其身。
To dung (糞) is to manure the fields. Since troops and armor are not in use, running horses are turned back to work the farmland; and one who governs his own body turns back the yang essence to manure that body.
2War horses foal outside the walls
天下無道，戎馬生於郊。
When all under heaven is without the Dao, war horses foal outside the walls.
note 4
貪欲無厭，不修其內，各求於外，故戎馬生於郊也。
Their coveting and wanting never knows when it has had enough; they do not cultivate what is within, and each seeks outside. So war horses foal outside the walls.
謂人主無道也。
This says that the ruler is without the Dao.
戰伐不止，戎馬生於郊境之上，久不還也。
Battle and attack do not cease, so the war horses foal out in the open country beyond the walls, and for a long while cannot come home.
好淫色也。
This is a fondness for excessive lust.
3The plenty of knowing what is enough
禍莫大於不知足；咎莫大於欲得。故知足之足，常足矣。
No disaster is greater than not knowing what is enough. No fault is greater than wanting to get. So only the plenty of one who knows what is enough is plenty that lasts.
note 4
富貴不能自禁止也。
Though rich and honored, he cannot forbid and stop himself.
欲得人物，利且貪也。
It is wanting to get what belongs to others — looking to the gain in it, and coveting besides.
守真根也。
This is guarding the true root.
無欲心也。
This is having no greedy heart.