Huan He stated the principle of carving: When sculpting a face, make the nose rather big and the eyes rather small. An oversized nose can be pared down, but a tiny one cannot be enlarged later; undersized eyes can be expanded, yet over-large ones cannot be shrunk.
The same logic applies to all undertakings. If you avoid moves that can never be reversed, you will rarely fail in your work.
Note
Leave adjustment space at the initial stage of any project. Avoid irreversible choices to lower the risk of failure.
Late Warring States Legalist thinker, borrows the carving maxim to summarize practical governance and work principles.
Huan He
A famous craftsman, sculptor in the Warring States period whose carving experience were summed up by Han Fei into a life philosophy.
Ancient stone/wood carving craft
Traditional Chinese sculpting follows gradual trimming; it is easier to remove excess material than to add missing parts.
Prudent governance philosophy
Legalists advocated prudent decision-making, leaving room for amendment to prevent irreversible political blunders.
Life wisdom of reserve margin
The sculpture metaphor evolved into a universal guideline for planning personal and official affairs.
桓赫曰：「刻削之道，鼻莫如大，目莫如小。鼻大可小，小不可大也。目小可大，大不可小也。」舉事亦然，為其不可復者也，則事寡敗矣。
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