A Dialectical Analysis of the Tripartite Qualities of 'Dao' in the Guanzi: Intricacy, Expansion, and Solidity

II. "Regarding thought, it is best not to push it to the extreme." (思莫若勿致) — Moderation in Thought

"Zhi" (致) means extremity, arrival, or exhaustion. "Wu zhi" (勿致) means not to push to the extreme. "Regarding thought, it is best not to push it to the extreme" means thoughts should not be pushed to the extreme.

This forms a subtle triangular relationship with the earlier phrases "Ponder it, ponder it again, and ponder it anew" and "Pondering without ceasing leads to internal confinement and external isolation":

• "Ponder it, ponder it again, and ponder it anew"—encourages deep contemplation (positive).
• "Pondering without ceasing leads to internal confinement and external isolation"—warns against excessive pondering (negative).
• "Regarding thought, it is best not to push it to the extreme"—summarizes the principle: thought should have moderation, not pushed to the extreme.

Taken together, these form a complete dialectic: one should think, but not excessively; one should delve deeply, but not become attached; one should use the mind, but not exhaust the mind.

This dialectical approach permeates all of pre-Qin Daoist thought. Laozi, Chapter Seventy-Seven, states: "The Dao of Heaven is like drawing a bow! It lowers the high, raises the low, diminishes the abundant, and supplements the deficient. The Dao of Heaven diminishes the abundant and supplements the deficient." The operation of the Dao of Heaven is continuous balancing—reducing the excessive and increasing the deficient. Cultivating the Dao is also like this—if deficient, increase (ponder repeatedly); if excessive, decrease (do not push to the extreme).