Full text of Chapter 9:
Tao Te Ching·Chapter 9 - Lao Tzu (Spring and Autumn Period)
It is not as good as what you already have.
If you pick it up and sharpen it, you cannot always protect it.
A house full of gold and jade cannot be guarded; if one is rich and arrogant, he will bring his own fault.
It is the way of heaven to retreat after one's merits.
Translation: If you insist on being full, it is better to stop at the right time; if you show your edge, it will be difficult to maintain the momentum for a long time. A house full of gold and jade cannot be kept hidden; if wealth reaches the level of arrogance, it will be a source of disaster for oneself. When something is done satisfactorily, it must be reserved and restrained. This is in line with the laws of nature.
Extended information:
The theme of "Tao Te Ching":
"Tao Te Ching" mainly discusses "Tao" and "Virtue": "Tao" is not only It is the way of the universe, the way of nature, and it is also the method of individual practice, that is, the way to practice Taoism. "Virtue" is not the morality or virtue that is usually thought of, but the special world view, methodology and way of dealing with people that are necessary for Taoists.
Lao Tzu’s original intention is to teach people how to cultivate Taoism. Virtue is the foundation, and Tao is the sublimation of virtue. Without a foundation of virtue, it is very likely that one will fail in conducting oneself, running a family, and running a country, and one will not have the ability to "cultivate the Tao."
So cultivating "virtue" is to create a good external environment for cultivating Taoism, which may be what people need; ascetics need to have a peaceful state of mind and a transcendent life, which also lacks "virtue" "No. The moral part of the Tao Te Ching occupies a large part of the scriptures, which is the basis of Taoism.
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