Tao Te Ching道德经
Tao Te Ching/Chapter 9

Leave the Cup Unfilled

持而盈之
Chí Ér Yíng Zhī

A cup filled to the brim spills. Wealth, honours and sharpened edges each invite their own loss: withdraw when the work is done, and that is the way of heaven.

All 81 chapters9 of 81
5 sentences · 6 notes
持chí而ér盈yíng之zhī,不bù如rú其qí已yǐ;揣chuǎi而ér锐ruì之zhī,不bù可kě长cháng保bǎo。

1It is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full.

2If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness.

金jīn玉yù满mǎn堂táng,莫mò之zhī能néng守shǒu;富fù贵guì而ér骄jiāo,自zì遗yí其qí咎jiù。

3When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe.

4When wealth and honours lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself.

功gōng遂suì身shēn退tuì,天tiān之zhī道dào也yě。

5When the work is done, and one's name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven.

Chinese commentary · 6 notes

The notes printed with this chapter in Chinese editions, kept in Chinese, for readers who come to the text that way.

1盈:满的意思。

2已:动词,停止的意思。

3揣:捶打,敲打的意思。

4莫:代词,“没有谁”的意思。

5而:这一章三个“而”,均为连词,“而且”、“并且”的意思。

6咎(jiù):灾祸的意思。

All 81 chapters