做任何事都要留余地，不要把事情做得太绝，这样即使是造物主也不会嫉妒我，神鬼也不会伤害我。假如一切事物都要求尽善尽美，一切功劳都希 望登峰造极，即使不为此而发生内乱，也必然为此而招致外患。

 

【英文译文】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.

（保罗·怀特 译）

 

If we can leave adequate leeway in dong everything, the Creator will not frown on us, nor will the ghosts and spirits be able to hurt us. If we insist on seeking perfection in handling affairs and completion in personal achievement, it will surely give rise to external disturbance though not necessarily to internal unforeseen occurrence.

（周文标 译）