# XLVI explained — Tao Te Ching

> Chapter companion for Tao Te Ching by Laozi.

## What happens

This chapter contrasts a world governed by the Tao, where swift horses are used for peaceful labor, with a world that disregards the Tao, where warhorses breed on battlefields. It warns that ambition, discontent, and greed are the greatest faults, and that contentment alone provides enduring sufficiency.

## Themes in this chapter

### Simplicity and Humility

The chapter advocates contentment with one's lot and warns against ambition and greed, aligning with the value of simplicity.

### The Soft Overcoming the Hard

By promoting contentment over aggressive acquisition, the chapter illustrates how yielding and non-assertive attitudes prevail over forceful ambition.

## Key lines

> When the Tao prevails in the world, they send back their swift horses to (draw) the dung-carts.

When the Way is followed in the world, even the fastest horses are used for peaceful farm work.

_Illustrates the peaceful, practical use of resources under Taoist governance._

> 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.

The worst wrong is to encourage ambition; the greatest disaster is dissatisfaction with what one has; the gravest error is the desire for more.

_Condemns ambition, discontent, and greed as the root causes of calamity._

> Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.

Thus, being content with enough provides a lasting and stable sufficiency.

_Emphasizes that true and lasting sufficiency comes from contentment, not accumulation._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters/part-ii-xlvi
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tao_te_ching_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/tao_te_ching_se/chapters