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Daoism -> Zhuangzi -> Outer Chapters -> Heaven and Earth -> 6

Yao was looking about him at Hua,
the border-warden of which said,
'Ha!
圣人the sage!
圣人 Let me ask blessings on the sage!
使圣人寿。” May he live long!'
:“。”Yao said, 'Hush!'
使圣人”。but the other went on, 'May the sage become rich!'
:“。”Yao (again) said, 'Hush!'
使圣人”。but (the warden) continued, 'May the sage have many sons!'
:“。” When Yao repeated his 'Hush,'
the warden said,
寿'Long life, riches, and many sons
are what men wish for
?”- how is it that you alone do not wish for them?'
Yao replied,
'Many sons bring many fears;
riches bring many troubles;
寿 and long life gives rise to many obloquies.
These three things
do not help to nourish virtue;
。” and therefore I wish to decline them.'
The warden rejoined,
圣人 'At first I considered you to be a sage;
君子 now I see in you only a Superior man.
Heaven, in producing the myriads of the people,
is sure to have appointed for them their several offices.
If you had many sons, and gave them (all their) offices,
what would you have to fear?
使If you had riches, and made other men share them with you, what trouble would you have?
圣人The sage finds his dwelling like the quail (without any choice of its own), and is fed like the fledgling;
he is like the bird which passes on (through the air), and leaves no trace (of its flight).
天下When good order prevails in the world, he shares in the general prosperity.
天下When there is no such order, he cultivates his virtue, and seeks to be unoccupied.
After a thousand years, tired of the world,
he leaves it, and ascends among the immortals.
He mounts on the white clouds,
and arrives at the place of God.
The three forms of evil do not reach him,
his person is always free from misfortune
!”- what obloquy has he to incur?'
With this the border-warden left him.
Yao followed him,
saying,
。” 'I beg to ask-- ;'
but the other said,
退!” 'Begone!'


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