41. Decrease (Sun)

Mountain over lake. Suggests voluntary letting go to achieve greater gain.

Line 1: Going quickly when one's tasks are finished is without blame. But one should reflect on how much one may decrease others.
Line 2: Perseverance furthers. To undertake something brings misfortune. Without decreasing oneself, one is able to bring increase to others.
Line 3: When three people journey together, their number decreases by one. When one person journeys alone, he finds a companion.
Line 4: If a man decreases his faults, it makes the other hasten to come and rejoice. No blame.
Line 5: Someone does indeed increase him. Ten pairs of tortoises cannot oppose it. Supreme good fortune.
Line 6: If one is increased without depriving others, there is no blame. Perseverance brings good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something. One obtains servants but no longer has a separate home.