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

Meng: “Why then do they not stop when they have gotthem?"Yang Chu: “On account of their death."Meng: “But what can they desire still after their death?"Yang Chu: “They think of their posterity."Meng: “How can their fame be available to theirposterity?"Yang Chu: “For fame's sake they endure all kinds ofbodily hardship and mental pain. They dispose of theirglory for the benefit of their clan, and even their fellowcitizensprofit by it. How much more so do theirdescendants! Howbeit it becomes those desirous of realfame to be disinterested, and disinterestedness meanspoverty; and likewise they must be unostentatious, andthis is equivalent to humble condition."How then can fame be disregarded, and how can famecome of itself?The ignorant, while seeking to maintain fame, sacrificereality. By doing so they will have to regret that nothingcan rescue them from danger and death, and not onlylearn to know the difference between ease and pleasureand sorrow and grief.