Line by Line - Verse 44, Line 4

Thus we may see,
Who cleaves to fame
Rejects what is more great;
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

He who is attached to things will suffer much.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Thus excessive love must lead to great spending
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

If you are too attached
to your possessions,
they will bring you misery.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

When we become overly attached to anything -- an object, person or idea -- we constantly fret about losing it or someone stealing it! Consequently, we build up barriers around it to confine it in a small space so we can keep a constant eye on it.

Think of men who treat their significant other like a caged animal. Consumed with jealousy, they keep the woman on the shortest of leashes. If she threatens to leave, many of these abusive males will murder the so-called object of their affection to keep any other man from possessing what they feel is rightfully theirs.

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