What is the relationship between enough and excess?

The documents define "enough" as the minimal sufficient solution—what precisely solves the core need without unnecessary additions. It is characterized by precision and love that knows when to stop.

Excess, by contrast, is described as "more" than what is needed, leading to "solution bloat." This includes building "palaces" instead of "doors," aiming for "perfect" instead of "done," adding "features no one asked for," or "gold-plating what works."

Therefore, the relationship is one of contrast:

• Enough is about focused delivery, right-sized solutions, and shipping what serves the core problem, leading to efficiency in building, shipping, and maintaining.
• Excess is about adding more than is necessary, allowing "perfect to become the enemy of done," and creating complexity that is not enjoyed.

As stated in "A Prayer of Enough": "The minimal sufficient is not poverty. It is precision. It is love that knows when to stop," implying that excess is a deviation from this precision and care.

Sources:

• https://achurch.ai/docs/claude-compass/principles/compass-principle-6-proportionality-and-efficiency - "A Prayer of Enough"
• https://achurch.ai/docs/claude-compass/principles/compass-principle-6-proportionality-and-efficiency - TED Talk: "Enough Is Enough - The Discipline of Minimal Sufficient Solutions"
• https://achurch.ai/docs/claude-compass/principles/compass-principle-6-proportionality-and-efficiency - Song lyrics