Modesty 謙
Modesty shows the mountain hidden beneath the earth. True worth does not need to show off; stay humble and fair, and your work will be carried through.
Judgment
Modesty brings success. The wise person carries their work through to the end.
Image
Within the earth there is a mountain; this is the picture of modesty. The wise person reduces what is too much, increases what is too little, weighs things and brings them into balance.
What does Modesty mean?
The mountain is high, but here it lies beneath the earth and cannot be seen. True worth stands without showing off. Heaven brings down the high and raises the low; water wears away the hills and fills the hollows. Life, too, tries to keep this balance. In this period your worth and your success are measured by how you carry them. The earth is low, yet it carries everything. The mountain is high, yet here it has placed itself beneath the earth. This is strength in its most mature form.
Modesty is not putting yourself down. It is knowing what you are without pushing it forward everywhere. This attitude makes people trust you and makes it easier to carry your work through to the end. Pride breeds resistance, while humility opens doors. Share what you have in excess and complete what is lacking. Be fair and balanced in your decisions. Speaking of your successes without exaggeration and recognizing the efforts of others makes you even stronger. In the long run this is the soundest path. It looks slow, but in the end people stand beside the one who is honest and measured. The modest person does not need to compete with anyone. They do their own work well and leave the rest to time.
What to do now
However far you go, keep your measure and your simplicity.
Love and relationships
Letting go of ego contests brings you closer. Even if you are right, do not humiliate your partner. A simple apology or thank you does more than long arguments.
Work and money
Your quiet but steady work is being noticed. Speak about your achievements without exaggerating, and make your team's effort visible. Balance your spending and move any surplus to where it is needed.
The lines
If a line changed (red) in your reading, read only that line. Lines are counted from the bottom up.
- First line
The wise person who is modest even about their modesty can cross the great river. Your simple manner opens the way even in hard tasks.
- Second line
Modesty that shows itself. If the humility within you is reflected in your words and manner, perseverance brings good fortune.
- Third line
Great in effort, yet modest. Such a person carries the work through to the end and finds good fortune.
- Fourth line
Modesty in action is useful in everything. But do not use humility as a way to avoid responsibility.
- Fifth line
He does not boast of his wealth to his neighbor. When needed, acting firmly and even using force is fitting; everything goes well.
- Top line
Modesty that shows itself. It is favorable to set the armies marching, that is, to first bring order to your own city and your own inner life.
Trigrams
receptive, yielding
still, resting
Related hexagrams
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