Tao Te Ching Chapter 9
paulpengThe Original Chinese Text
持而盈之,不如其已;揣而锐之,不可长保。金玉满堂,莫之能守;富贵而骄，自遗其咎。功遂身,天之道也。
lt is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full. If you keep feeling a point that has been sharpened, the point cannot long preserve its sharpness. When gold and jade fill the hall, their possessor cannot keep them safe. When wealth and honours leadto arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself. When the workis done, and one's name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven.
【译文】持握过多以致太满溢出，不如及时停止;锤炼的过于锋锐，反而不利于长久的保持锋芒。金玉堆满厅堂，反而没有谁能够保护持有;因为富贵而使人骄纵，就为自己留下了祸根。功业达到了目的就要及时退隐，这样才算是顺应天道。
[Translation] Holding too much until it overflows is not as good as stopping in a timely manner. Sharpening something to an excessive degree of sharpness will instead make it difficult to maintain that sharpness for a long time. When the hall is filled with gold and jade, there is no one who can protect and possess them. If one becomes arrogant because of wealth and status, one is planting the seeds of disaster for oneself. When one has achieved one's goal in one's achievements, one should retire in a timely manner. Only in this way can one be said to be following the way of heaven.
