Line by Line - Verse 46, Line 8

Therefore the sufficiency of contentment is an enduring and unchanging sufficiency.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Therefore he who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Thus the satisfaction of contentment
is the lasting satisfaction
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

If you know when enough is enough,
you will always have enough.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

I think Derek Lin sums up this line and the whole verse very well.

The driving force behind warfare and conflict is excessive desire at the expense of others. That is why there is no greater crime than greed, no greater disaster than not knowing when one has enough, and no greater fault than avarice, or covetousness. Conversely, the satisfaction we can derive from the feeling of contentment -- at any level of material possession -- is the true and lasting satisfaction. This is the peaceful bliss and self-sufficiency of those who follow the Tao.

To view the Index page for this series to see what you may have missed or would like to read again, go here.