A man should beware of reaching too high a position, for he might bring danger upon himself.
A man’s accomplishments should not be too perfect, for that is the point at which decline sets in.
A man should avoid too high a reputation for his virtues, for that provokes gossip and slander.
爵位不宜太盛，太盛则危；能事不宜尽毕，尽毕则衰；行谊不宜过高，过高则谤兴而毁来。
Notes
Caigen Tan(Tending the roots of wisdom) illuminates life’s balance:
- Power at its zenith risks backlash from human complexity and systemic checks;
- Talent pushed to limits violates nature’s law — as Laozi stated ‘all things strong must age‘;
- Morality flaunted too high loses touch with earthly realities.
True wisdom lies not in rejection but in tempered expression: reigning in glory, pacing brilliance, grounding ethics.
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