知足不辱 zhī zú bù rǔ Contentment protects against humiliation

Explanation

知足不辱的意思是知道满足就不会受到羞辱。它强调了知足的重要性,告诫人们不要贪得无厌,要保持知足常乐的心态,才能避免遭受羞辱和不幸。

The meaning of "zhī zú bù rǔ" is that if you know how to be content, you will not be humiliated. It emphasizes the importance of contentment, warning people not to be greedy and insatiable, and to maintain a contented and happy mindset in order to avoid humiliation and misfortune.

Origin Story

从前,有一个名叫李明的年轻人,他家境贫寒,但为人勤奋,生活虽然清苦,却也知足常乐。他与村里一个名叫王强的年轻人是好朋友,王强则一心想发财致富,不断追求物质享受。一次,李明和王强一起去参加一个远方富商的宴会。席间,王强看到富商奢华的生活,羡慕不已,暗下决心要过上这样的生活。他开始不择手段地追求财富,最终却因贪婪而身败名裂,甚至锒铛入狱。而李明始终保持着知足的心态,虽没有大富大贵,却过着平静快乐的生活,家庭和睦,生活幸福美满。李明的故事就如同老子《道德经》里提到的“知足不辱,知止不殆”一样,告诫世人要懂得满足,才能获得真正的幸福与快乐。

cóng qián, yǒu yīgè míng jiào lǐ míng de nián qīng rén, tā jiā jìng pín hán, dàn wéi rén qín fèn, shēng huó suī rán qīng kǔ, què yě zhī zú cháng lè. tā yǔ cūn lǐ yīgè míng jiào wáng qiáng de nián qīng rén shì hǎo péng yǒu, wáng qiáng zé yī xīn xiǎng fā cái zhì fù, bù duàn zhuī qiú wù zhì xiǎng shòu.

Once upon a time, there was a young man named Li Ming who came from a poor family, but he was diligent and content with his simple life. He and a young man named Wang Qiang from the village were good friends, but Wang Qiang was determined to become rich and constantly pursued material enjoyment. Once, Li Ming and Wang Qiang went to a banquet hosted by a wealthy merchant from afar. At the banquet, Wang Qiang saw the wealthy merchant's luxurious life, he was envious and determined to live such a life. He began to pursue wealth by any means necessary, but eventually ended up ruined and disgraced, even ending up in prison. Li Ming, on the other hand, always maintained a contented attitude, and although he did not become extremely wealthy, he lived a peaceful and happy life, with a harmonious family and a happy life. The story of Li Ming, like the saying from Lao Tzu's Dao De Jing, "zhī zú bù rǔ, zhī zhǐ bù dài," cautions people to understand the importance of contentment in order to find true happiness and joy.

Usage

常用于劝诫人们不要贪婪,要知足常乐。

cháng yòng yú quàn jiè rén men bù yào tānlán, yào zhī zú cháng lè

Often used to warn people not to be greedy and to be content.

Examples

  • 知足者常乐,知足不辱。

    zhī zú zhě cháng lè, zhī zú bù rǔ

    Those who are content are always happy; those who are content are not humiliated.

  • 人若能知足,就不会受辱。

    rén ruò néng zhī zú, jiù bù huì shòu rǔ

    If a person can be content, they will not be humiliated.