Whatever I do, I leave some part of it unfinished; that way the Creator will not frown on me and the ghosts and spirits will not be able to harm me.
If, in the course of self-cultivation, I strive for seamless perfection, and in the course of earthly achievements I head straight for the summit, even though I incur no internal calamity, I will surely bring upon myself some external grief.
事事留个有余不尽的意思，便造物不能忌我，鬼神不能损我。若业必求满，功必求盈者，不生内变，必召外忧。
Notes
“Leaving Margin” – Wisdom of Harmonizing with Natural Law
In nature, the moon wanes after fullness; flowers wither after blooming. “Fullness spills, abundance declines” reflects cosmic rhythm. “Leaving margin in all things” honors this principle — exhausting neither resources, words, nor advantage. This creates space for others and retreat for oneself. Such “reserve” is not weakness but an art of balance: Like vessels with space withstand expansion, life with margin maintains resilience amid change.
“Insisting on Fullness” – The Root of Crisis
The mindset demanding “absolute fullness and perfection” stems from obsession, carrying dual risks:
- Internally: Extreme pursuit drains energy, strains mindset, and distorts judgment (e.g., neglecting details in haste, anxiety over failure), breeding “internal turmoil”;
- Externally: Overexposure and monopolizing gains provoke envy and conflict (e.g., workplace exclusion due to overshadowing superiors, making enemies by relentless insistence), summoning “external calamity.”
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