知足不辱
Zhī zú bù rǔ
Knowing Contentment Avoids Disgrace
原文Original Text
「知足不辱,知止不殆,可以长久。」
——《道德经》第44章 — Daodejing, Chapter 44

释义Annotation

「知足不辱」出自《道德经》第四十四章。知道满足就不会遭受屈辱。老子在此章探讨名利与生命的关系:名声与生命哪个更亲近?生命与财货哪个更贵重?得到与失去哪个更有害?过度追求名利必然招致羞辱,唯有知足才能保全自身。

"Zhi zu bu ru" comes from Chapter 44 of the Daodejing. Knowing contentment avoids disgrace. Laozi explores the relationship between fame, wealth, and life: which is closer — fame or life? Which is more precious — life or possessions? Excessive pursuit of fame and fortune inevitably invites disgrace; only contentment preserves oneself.

核心概念Core Concepts

此成语蕴含道家「守柔」「知足」「抱朴」等核心理念。老子通过这一比喻,阐述了顺应自然、不争不抢、返璞归真的处世智慧。在纷繁复杂的现代社会中,这些古老的智慧依然闪耀着指引的光芒。

This idiom embodies core Taoist concepts of "keeping to softness," "knowing contentment," and "embracing simplicity." Through this metaphor, Laozi expounds the wisdom of following nature, not competing, and returning to authenticity. In our complex modern world, these ancient insights continue to illuminate the path forward.