Wells Fargo WFC under CEO Charles Scharf

HEXAGRAM 60 – Chieh – Limitation

Above    K’AN    THE ABYSMAL, WATER

Below    TUI    THE JOYOUS, LAKE

• A lake occupies a limited space.
  

When more water comes into it,

• it overflows.
  

Therefore

limits must be set for the water.

The image shows

• water below and
  
• water above,
  
• with the firmament between them as a limit.
  

The Chinese word for limitation really

denotes the joints that divide a bamboo stalk.

• In relation to ordinary life
  
  • it means the thrift that sets fixed limits upon expenditures.
    
• In relation to the moral sphere
  
  • it means the fixed limits that the superior man sets upon his actions –
    

    the limits of loyalty and disinterestedness.
    

THE JUDGMENT

LIMITATION.

Success.

Galling limitation must not be persevered in.

• Limitations are troublesome,
  

but

• they are effective.
  

If

• we live economically in normal times,
  
• we are prepared for times of want.
  

To be sparing saves us from humiliation.

Limitations are also indispensable in the regulation of world conditions.

In nature there are fixed limits for

• summer and winter,
  
• day and night, and
  

these limits give the year its meaning.

In the same way,

economy,

by setting fixed limits upon expenditures,

acts to

• preserve property and
  
• prevent injury to the people.
  

But in limitation

we must observe due measure.

• If a man should seek to impose galling limitations upon his own nature,
  
  • it would be injurious.
    

And

• if he should go too far in imposing limitations on others,
  
  • they would rebel.
    

Therefore

it is necessary to set limits even upon limitations

THE IMAGE

Water over lake: the image of LIMITATION.

Thus

the superior man

• Creates number and measure, And
  
• examines the nature of virtue and correct conduct.
  

• A lake is something limited.
  
• Water is inexhaustible.
  

A lake

• can contain only a definite amount of the infinite quantity of water;
  
• this is its peculiarity.
  

In human life too

the individual achieves significance through

• discrimination and
  
• the setting of limits.
  

Therefore

what concerns us here is

the problem of clearly defining these discriminations,

which are, so to speak,

• the backbone of morality.
  

• Unlimited possibilities are not suited to man;
  
• if
  
• they existed,
  
• his life would only dissolve in the boundless.
  

To become strong,

a man’s life needs the limitations

• ordained by duty and
  
• voluntarily accepted.
  

The individual attains significance as a free spirit only

• by surrounding himself with these limitations and
  
• by determining for himself what his duty is.
  

THE LINES

Six at the top means:

Galling limitation.

Perseverance brings misfortune.

Remorse disappears.

If

• one is too severe in setting up restrictions,
  
• people will not endure them.
  

• The more consistent such severity,
  
• the worse it is,
  

for in the long run

• a reaction is unavoidable.
  

In the same way,

• the tormented body will rebel against excessive asceticism.
  

On the other hand, although

• ruthless severity is not to be applied persistently and systematically,
  

there may be times when

• it is the only means of safeguarding against guilt and remorse.
  

In such situations

• ruthlessness toward oneself
  
• is the only means of saving one’s soul,
  

which otherwise

• would succumb to irresolution and temptation.
  

MOVING HEXAGRAM

HEXAGRAM 61 – Chung Fu – Inner Truth

Above    SUN    THE GENTLE, WIND

Below    TUI    THE JOYOUS, LAKE

The wind

• blows over the lake and
  
• stirs the surface of the water.
  

Thus visible effects of the invisible manifest themselves.

The hexagram consists of

• firm lines above and below,
  

while

• it is open in the center.
  

This indicates

• a heart free of prejudices,
  

and therefore

• open to truth.
  

On the other hand,

each of the two trigrams has a firm line in the middle;

this indicates

• the force of inner truth in the influences they represent.
  

The attributes of the two trigrams are:

• above, gentleness, forbearance toward inferiors;
  
• below, Joyousness in obeying superiors.
  

Such conditions

• create the basis of a mutual confidence
  

that

• makes achievements possible.
  

The character fu (“truth”) is actually the picture of

a bird’s foot over a fledgling.

It suggests the idea of brooding.

An egg is hollow.

The light-giving power must work to quicken it from outside,

but

there must be a germ of life within,

if life is to be awakened.

Far-reaching speculations can be linked with these ideas.

THE JUDGMENT

INNER TRUTH. Pigs and fishes.

Good fortune.

It furthers one to cross the great Water.

Perseverance furthers.

Pigs and fishes are

• the least intelligent of all animals
  
• and therefore
  
• the most difficult to influence.
  

The force of inner truth must grow great indeed

before its influence can extend to such creatures.

In dealing with persons

• as intractable and
  
• as difficult to influence
  
• as a pig or a fish,
  

the whole secret of success depends

• on finding the right way of approach.
  

One must first

• rid oneself of all prejudice and, so to speak,
  
• let the psyche of the other person act on one without restraint.
  

Then

one will

• establish contact with him,
  
• understand and gain power over him.
  

When

a door has thus been opened,

the force of one’s personality will influence him.

If in this way

• one finds no obstacles insurmountable,
  
• one
  
  • can undertake even the most dangerous things,
    

    such as crossing the great water, and
    

  • succeed.
    

But

it is important to understand

upon what the force of inner truth depends.

This force is not identical with

• simple intimacy or
  
• a secret bond.
  

Close ties may exist also among thieves;

it is true that such a bond acts as a force

• but, since it is not invincible,
  
• it does not bring good fortune.
  

All association on the basis of common interests

holds only up to a certain point.

Where the community of interest ceases,

• the holding together ceases also, and
  
• the closest friendship often changes into hate.
  

Only when

• the bond is based on what is right, on steadfastness,
  
• will it remain so firm that it triumphs over everything.
  

THE IMAGE

Wind over lake: the image of INNER TRUTH.

Thus

the superior man

discusses criminal cases

In order to delay executions.

Wind stirs water by penetrating it.

Thus

the superior man,

when

obliged to judge the mistakes of men,

• tries to penetrate their minds with understanding,
  
• in order to gain a sympathetic appreciation of the circumstances.
  

In ancient China,

the entire administration of justice was guided by this principle.

A deep understanding that knows how to pardon

was considered the highest form of justice.

This system was not without success,

for its aim was to make so strong a moral impression

that there was no reason to fear abuse of such mildness.

For it sprang not

• from weakness
  

but

• from a superior clarity.
  

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