Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.一无所求的人最有福,因他从不会失望。
此句为了强调blessed(幸福)而提到句首。谚语出自英国诗人Alexander Pope给另一位诗人John Gay的信,并称这是“a ninth beatitude added to the eighth in the Scripture”(耶稣登山宝训八福以外的第九福)。
类似意思的谚语有:
Content is happiness.
知足常乐。
Poor and content is rich and rich enough.或
He who is content in his poverty is wonderfully rich.
人能安贫知足就是富有。
A wise man cares not for what he cannot have.
聪明人不会追求他要不到的东西。
Enough is as good as a feast.或
A contented mind is a continual feast.
吃得足够胜过筵席。《战国策》中写到一位不愿做官的人说:“晚食以当肉,安步以当车,无罪以当贵,清静真贞以自娱。”此言为一个知足常乐者的心声。
与此相反的谚语,可参阅Discontent is the first step in progress.