Line by Line - Verse 44, Line 3

Keep life and lose those other things;
Keep them and lose your life:--which brings
Sorrow and pain more near?
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Gain or loss: Which is more painful?
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Gain or loss, which is more painful?
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

What is more dangerous,
winning or losing?
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

This seems an apropos place to share one of the stories from the Huainanzi.

Among the people who lived close to the border, there was a man who led a righteous life. Without reason, his horse escaped, and fled into barbarian territory. Everyone pitied him, but the old man said : "what makes you think this is not a good thing?"

Several months later, his horse returned, accompanied by a superb barbarian stallion. Everyone congratulated him. But the old man said: "what makes you think this is cannot be a bad thing?"

The family was richer from a good horse, his son enjoyed riding it. He fell and broke his hip. Everyone pitied him, but the old man said: "what makes you think this is not a good thing!"

One year later, a large party of barbarians entered the border. All the valid men drew their bows and went to battle. From the people living around the border, nine out of ten died. But just because he was lame, the old man and his son were both spared.

Thence, good fortune turns into bad fortune, and bad fortune turns into good fortune. These changes never reach an end, their complexity can never be fathomed.

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