This quote by George Herbert is a pointer that often the very best way to gain something is to let go of something else. It recommends that in order to acquire something, we need to want to compromise something else. This might suggest that in order to acquire something, we should want to give up something else that we might have been keeping. It could also mean that in order to gain something, we need to want to take a risk and let go of something that we might have been comfy with. This quote motivates us to be open to change and to be ready to take threats in order to acquire something. It advises us that often the very best gain is to lose something else in order to acquire something else. It is a pointer that in some cases the best method to get something is to let go of something else.
"Don't lower your expectations to meet your performance. Raise your level of performance to meet your expectations. Expect the best of yourself, and then do what is necessary to make it a reality"
"The man who makes everything that leads to happiness depends upon himself, and not upon other men, has adopted the very best plan for living happily. This is the man of moderation, the man of manly character and of wisdom"