第九章 持而盈之
持而盈①之，不如其已②；揣③而锐之，不可长保。金玉满堂，莫④之能守；富贵而⑤骄，自遗其咎⑥。功遂身退，天之道也。
名词解释:
盈：满的意思
己：动词，停止的意思
揣：捶打，敲打的意思
莫：代词，“没有谁”的意思
而：而且、并且
咎：灾祸的意思
通篇解释：
保持盈满的状态，不如适可而止。捶打得尖利的铁器，就不能长久保持锋利。纵然金玉堆满房屋，没有人能一直守住。富贵而又骄纵，定会给自己留下祸害。功成名就后就要急流勇退，这才是符合天道运行规律。
扩展引申：
普通生活中如何避免“满招损”的现象发生呢？
本章中，老子讲了许多满招损的道理，比如你往杯子里灌水，当水满了，再往里加，当然会溢出来；换一个说法，当弓被拉满后仍然继续用力猛拉，弦自然会被拉断。这都告诉人们要适可即止，不可锋芒毕露、富贵而骄、居功贪位。这些绝对不只是讲给所谓的成功领先者听。
在生活中，这也同样适合于普通大众。在当今社会下，很多精神、心理疾病患者都是有这类问题。很多人追求完美主义，想要做到最好，无形给自己造成很大的压力。但每个人都是不同的个体，就好比你的杯型容积不同，你的弓型材质不同，那个满溢饱和点自然不同。
所以很多时候你无需去贪恋大众心目中的成功标准，因为人和人是不同，或者说命和命是不同的。其实事在人为，但成事还是在天，要学会享受这个追求目标的过程才是最重要的，即要会摸索自己了解自己的本性特质。这样你在面对最终结果时会释然很多，也就自然宠辱不惊了。
当达不到目标时，你无遗憾，因为你经历过了，成长过了；反之当达到目标时，你自然也就不会贪恋要一直保持住这个状态而招来祸患。所以凡事不求满分，居于次之反而能更为你的快乐留有空间。
Chapter 9
Stretch a bow to the very full,
And you will wish you had stopped in time;
Temper a sword-edge to its very sharpest,
And you will find it soon grows dull.
When bronze and jade fill your hall,
It can no longer be guarded.
Wealth and rank breed insolence,
That brings ruin in its train.
When your work is done, then withdraw!
Such is Heaven’s Way.
Extension:
How to avoid the phenomenon of “full loss”in ordinary life?
In this chapter, Lao Tzu has made a lot of example to explain “full loss”theory. If you pour water into a glass, when the water is full, you will overflow. In other words, when the bow is full, the bow will continue to jerk and the string will be pulled apart. This all tells people to stop at the right time, do not to show rich status and be arrogant about that. These are definitely not just for the so-called successful leaders.
In life it is also suitable for the general public. In today’s society, many people with mental illness have such problems. They pursue perfectionism and want to do the best, that create a lot of pressure invisibly. Each person is a different person, just like your cup-volume, your bow profile is different, so your limiting point is naturally different.
So you don’t have to reach the public standards of success, because each people is different. All matter has its fate, enjoying the process of pursuing the goal is more important for us. That is to explore the nature of yourself. Therefore, you will be relieved to face the final result, and you will natural be humbled.
When you don’t reach your goals, you have no regrets, because you have experienced and grown. Conversely, when you reach your goal, you naturally don’t want to cling to it. So all things are not demand full marks, in the second place can bring your more happiness.