战国·楚·屈原《卜居》:“夫尺有所短，寸有所长，物有所不足。智有所不明，数有所不逮，神有所不通。”

尺有所短，寸有所长。比喻人或事物各有其长处和短处。出自《楚辞·卜居》：“夫尺有所短，寸有所长，物有所不足，智有所不明，数有所不逮，神有所不通。”《史记·白起王翦列传论》：“鄙语二：‘尺有所短，寸有所长。’ 白起 料敌合变，出奇无穷，声震天下，然不能救患於 应侯 。”

lit. for some things a foot may be too short, and for the other an inch will suffice (proverb); fig. everyone has their strong and weak points; everything has its advantages and disadvantages