持盈章第九

持而盈之，不如其已； 揣而銳之，不可長保。金玉滿堂，莫之能守；富貴而驕，自遺其咎。功成身退，天之道。

9. Retire

Fill a cup to its brim and it is easily spilled;

Temper a sword to its hardest and it is easily broken;

Amass the greatest treasure and it is easily stolen;

Claim credit and honour and you easily fall;

Retire once your purpose is achieved - this is natural.

持有而又讓他盈滿，倒不如適可而止。捶擊末端使物體變得銳利，銳利是無法長期保有的。金銀寶玉藏了一屋子，無法長期守護。富貴而驕縱，那是讓自己迷失在罪咎之中。成功之後要能夠退讓，這才是自然運行可以持久的常道。