節
Jié · Limitation
A limit you can live with is stronger than a limit you admire.
The judgment
節：亨。 苦節不可貞。
Limitation succeeds. But bitter limitation cannot be held to: a rule that hurts all the time will not last.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex60.judgment.
The image
象曰：澤上有水，節。君子以制數度，議德行。
Water above the lake: limitation. A capable person sets measures and discusses character: limits are made deliberately, not by mood.
Received text; plain English after the Chinese. Source: 周易經傳 (public-domain). Passage: hex60.image.
A limit you can live with is stronger than a limit you admire.
The six lines
Each line is a stage, from the bottom of the hexagram to the top. Open any line to read it in plain English.
初九 不出戶庭，無咎。 Not going out of the courtyard. No blame: restraint at the right time is not cowardice.
Not going out of the courtyard. No blame: restraint at the right time is not cowardice.
九二 不出門庭，凶。 Not going out of the gate. Misfortune: this is the wrong time to hold back.
Not going out of the gate. Misfortune: this is the wrong time to hold back.
六三 不節若，則嗟若，無咎。 If you do not limit yourself, you will sigh. No blame: the consequence is simply the teacher.
If you do not limit yourself, you will sigh. No blame: the consequence is simply the teacher.
六四 安節，亨。 A comfortable limit. Success: the rule fits the life, so it can be kept.
A comfortable limit. Success: the rule fits the life, so it can be kept.
九五 甘節，吉﹔往有尚。 A sweet limit. Good fortune; going forward is honored: the discipline tastes good.
A sweet limit. Good fortune; going forward is honored: the discipline tastes good.
上六 苦節，貞凶，悔亡。 Bitter limitation. Even holding on is bad; but regret disappears: once you see it is too bitter, you can stop.
Bitter limitation. Even holding on is bad; but regret disappears: once you see it is too bitter, you can stop.