Line by Line - Verse 9, Line 1

It is better to leave a vessel unfilled, than to attempt to carry it when it is full.
~ James Legge translation, from The Sacred Books of the East, 1891 ~

Better to stop short than fill to the brim.
~ Gia-fu Feng and Jane English translation, published by Vintage Books, 1989 ~

Holding a cup and overfilling it Cannot be as good as stopping short
~ Derek Lin translation, from Tao Te Ching: Annotated & Explained, published by SkyLight Paths, 2006 ~

If you drink too much, you get drunk.
~ Ron Hogan rendition, from Beatrice.com, 2004 ~

In reference to this line, John Lash brings up an astute point about how

we have all seen boxers or other athletes who compete for too long and receive the opposite of the success and victory they are striving for.

The point, of course, is not to overdo things. Whatever we undertake in this life, it needs a certain amount of effortless effort. When we provide the right amount, we can be successful. However, we if provide too much (or too little), we often receive the exact opposite of our aim.

Too much of a good thing is just as bad as too little.

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