Gōng tài mǎn zé zhé; yuè tài mǎn zé quē.

弓太滿則折, 月太滿則缺。

Lit [When a] bow [is pulled] too far, [it] will break; [when the] moon is [at its] fullest, [it] will wane.

Fig Things that reach their extreme will decline.

Note [Cf. Sima Qian's Shǐ Jì: Cài Zé Zhuàn; see also luòcháo zǒng yǒu below.]

Topics BALANCE Cài Zé Zhuàn EXTREMES MOON Shǐ Jì Sima_Qian