有所不为而后可以有为yǒu suǒ bù wéi ér hòu kě yǐ yǒu wéi

one must leave some things undone if one wants to get others done; refrain from doing some things in order to be able to do other things
❍ 孟子曰：“人有不为也，而后可以有为。” (《孟子·离娄下》)Mencius said，“Men must be decided on what they will not do,and then they are able to act with vigor in what they ought to do.”/“～”，正是这种情形。(《毛泽东选集》503) The saying，“Refrain from doing some things in order to be able to do other things”，exactly meets the case.

有所不为而后可以有为you suo bu wei er hou ke yi you wei

you must leave some things undone if you want to get others done