Increased Without Depriving

Going Quickly When Tasks Are Done

"Going swiftly when one's work is finished is without blame. But consider how much one may take from others."

Hexagram 41 line 1 means finish the help you're giving, then go — quickly, before thanks turns into a bond. Your work here is done; lingering to be appreciated only inflates the ego you came to decrease. And weigh the second warning: even good help can diminish the one you help.

Increase Without Self-Decrease

"Steadfastness rewards; rash undertaking brings misfortune. One can increase others without decreasing oneself."

Hexagram 41 line 2 means help others, but never by spending yourself. Stay steadfast; rushing in to fix things brings misfortune. You can genuinely increase another without draining your own substance — and that is the only giving that holds. Trade away a principle or your dignity to be useful, and no one is richer.

Three Travel, One Departs

"When three journey together, their number decreases by one. When one journeys alone, he finds a companion."

Hexagram 41 line 3 means a crowd is costing you the very thing it seems to offer. Three travelling together breed faction; the group divides down to two. But one who walks honestly alone draws a true companion. The counsel is to subtract — release the surplus attachment, and let a single real bond form in the space.

Decreasing One's Faults

"He decreases his faults — and makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame."

Hexagram 41 line 4 means the most welcome decrease of all is your own faults. Reduce a defect honestly, and the person your sharpness kept at arm's length hastens gladly closer. This is self-correction as hospitality: every fault lowered lowers the wall around you. No blame — because the work here is on yourself, not on them.

The Increase None Can Oppose

"Someone increases him indeed. Ten pairs of tortoise shells could not gainsay it. Supreme good fortune."

Hexagram 41 line 5 means the harvest of sincere decrease has arrived: increase descends on you from the whole order of things, so surely that ten oracles consulted together could not contradict it. This blessing isn't sought and can't be blocked — it gathers around steadfast goodness the way water gathers in the low place. Keep choosing the true.

Less is the medicine — sincerity outweighs everything you could add.

Less is the medicine — trim the ego, and the essential grows.

Cut what's excess to feed the core — sincerity beats splendour.

Less is the medicine — two small bowls, offered honestly, are enough.

Less is the medicine — cut the surplus, keep the substance.

Grow by subtraction — decrease the ego, and the essential thrives.

Study less but truly — a few things deep beats many shallow.

Less is the making here — subtract to the essence, offered sincerely.

Give something up first, then act — sincerely, and small.

Fruitful lessening — decrease the ego so the essential can grow.

Less is the medicine — a few true bonds outweigh a crowd.

This change subtracts — but sincerity outweighs everything you lose.