Which of fame or body is more close? Which of body or goods is more (i

立戒 · Lì Jiè

Classical Chinese Text

名与身孰亲？身与货孰多？得与亡孰病？甚爱必大费，多藏必厚亡。故知足不辱，知止不殆，可以长久。

Translation & Meaning

Which of fame or body is more close? Which of body or goods is more (important)? Which of gain or loss is more harmful? Overfondness induces great cost, over-hoarding induces heavy loss. So knowing (when it is) enough induces no disgrace, knowing (when to) cede induces no peril, can last long.

Linguistic & Character Analysis

  • 名 (míng): name / conceptual label / to name
  • 与 (yǔ): classical character (yǔ)
  • 身 (shēn): classical character (shēn)
  • 孰 (shú): classical character (shú)
  • 亲 (qīn): classical character (qīn)
  • 货 (huò): goods / treasure / items
  • 多 (duō): classical character (duō)
  • 得 (dé): obtain / acquire / gain
  • 亡 (wáng): classical character (wáng)
  • 病 (bìng): classical character (bìng)
  • 甚 (shèn): classical character (shèn)
  • 爱 (ài): classical character (ài)
  • 必 (bì): classical character (bì)
  • 大 (dà): classical character (dà)
  • 费 (fèi): classical character (fèi)
  • 藏 (cáng): classical character (cáng)
  • 厚 (hòu): classical character (hòu)
  • 故 (gù): therefore / thus / consequence
  • 知 (zhī): know / distinguish / recognize
  • 足 (zú): classical character (zú)
  • 不 (bù): not / un- / without
  • 辱 (rǔ): classical character (rǔ)
  • 止 (zhǐ): classical character (zhǐ)
  • 殆 (dài): classical character (dài)
  • 可 (kě): can / capable of being
  • 以 (yǐ): in order to / by means of
  • 长 (cháng): long / enduring / grow
  • 久 (jiǔ): classical character (jiǔ)