Tao Te Ching Chapter 9
第9章
持而盈之，不如其已；揣而梲之，不可長保。金玉滿堂，莫之能守；富貴而驕，自遺其咎。功遂身退，天之道。
It 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 lead to arrogancy, this brings its evil on itself. When the work is done, and one's name is becoming distinguished, to withdraw into obscurity is the way of Heaven.
English: James Legge (1891), The Tâo Teh King, Sacred Books of the East vol. 39 (1891) — public domain. Chinese: Wang Bi recension (王弼本), commentary removed.
Character glossary
- 持chíto hold, to support, to sustain
- 而érand, and then, and yet; but
- 盈yíngfull, overflowing; surplus; to fill
- 之zhīmarks preceding phrase as modifier of fo
- 不bùno, not, un-; negative prefix
- 如rúas, as if, like, such as, supposing
- 其qíhis, her, its, their; that
- 已yǐalready; finished; to stop; then, afterw
- 揣chuāito stow in one's clothes; to estimate, t
- 梲zhuójoist; cane, club; king-post
- 可kěmay, can, -able; possibly
- 長zhǎnglong, lasting; to excel in
- 保bǎoto safeguard, to protect, to defend, to
- 金jīngold, metal; money
- 玉yùjade, gem, precious stone
- 滿mǎnto fill; full, packed; satisfied
- 堂tánghall, large room; government office; cou
- 莫mòcannot; do not; is not; negative
- 能néngcan, may; capable, full of energy
- 守shǒuto defend, to guard, to protect; to cons
- 富fùabundant, ample; rich, wealthy
- 貴guìexpensive, costly; valuable, precious
- 驕jiāohaughty, spirited; a wild stallion
- 自zìself; private, personal; from
- 遺yíto lose; a lost article
- 咎jiùfault, defect; error, mistake
- 功gōngachievement, good work; merit; service
- 遂suìto fail; to follow, to comply with
- 身shēnbody, torso; person; pregnancy
- 退tuìto retreat, to step back, to withdraw
- 天tiānsky, heaven; god, celestial
- 道dàomethod, way; path, road
Similar passages
- Hexagram 9
- Zhuangzi The Circling Sky
- Art of War 1.22
- Zhuangzi Robber Chê
- Zhuangzi On Letting Alone
- Tao Te Ching Chapter 67
Data: English Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0); Chinese Wikisource (Public domain texts; transcription CC BY-SA 4.0). Retrieved 2026-10-22.