9
stop before the brim
or it will spill
a bowstring drawn too tight will snap
keep sharpening the blade
and it will wear away
enough is enough
focus on achieving your true objective
rather than merely doing your job
or just following instructions
the more costly your possessions
the better armed the thieves
who will attack you
the higher your status
the more powerful the critics you will attract
the greater your pride
and the more your vanity
the worse your eventual ridicule will be
put value into work
not into stuff
be unconcerned with praise
withdraw as soon as you have finished
and you will know the perfect satisfaction of Tao
july 2006
