“He who stands on tiptoe does not stand firm; he who strides does not walk well.”Lao Zi · Cartea despre Dao și Virtute · -400 · capitolul 24
If you must stretch to hold your position, the position is not yours.
The image is physical and moral at once. Standing on tiptoe takes constant effort, and effort runs out; an overlong stride breaks the rhythm of walking. In both cases, the wish to gain more quickly destroys the very base that action rests on. The Dao asks for natural measure, not forced performance. An employee who takes on three projects at once to look ambitious delivers all of them badly.
Why it matters In a culture of overextension, the line is a simple test: if you must strain to hold a position, the position is not yours. It applies to careers, relationships, ambitions.