《北史·列传·卷四十四》
世上哪里会有只增加而不减少的事物？又怎么会只减少而不被损失的情况呢？利益不要太大，好处不要太多。
过涅为绀，逾蓝作青，持绳亲直，置水观平。
Where in the world is there something that only increases and never decreases? How can something only decrease and not be lost? One should not have too much profit or too many advantages.