' The Sin of Desire '...

When the Tao is present in the universe,
The horses haul manure.

When the Tao is absent from the universe,
War horses are bred outside the city.

There is no greater sin than desire,
No greater curse than discontent,
No greater misfortune than wanting something for oneself.

Therefore he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.




- Lao-tzu

Tao Te Ching
Translation by Gia-fu Feng and Jane English
Vintage Books Edition, September 1989