The Three Principle Texts of Daoism translated by ... - Bad Request

26.As to what the world does and the way in which peopleare happy now, I know not whether such happiness bereal happiness or not. The happiness of ordinary personsseems to me to consist in slavishly following the majority,as if they could not help it. Yet they all say they arehappy. But I cannot say that this is happiness or that it isnot happiness. Is there, then, after all, such a thing ashappiness?I make true pleasure to consist in inaction, which theworld regards as great pain. Thus it has been said,Perfect happiness is the absence of happiness."27.A man who plays for counters will play well. If he stakeshis girdle [1] , he will be nervous; if yellow gold, he willlose his wits. His skill is the same in each case, but he isdistracted by the value of his stake. And every one whoattaches importance to the external, becomes internallywithout resource.notes[1] In which he keeps his loose cash.