← Table of contents Tao Te Ching illustration
将欲歙之,
Jiāng yù xī zhī,
To contract something,
必固张之;
Bì gù zhāng zhī;
Allow it first to expand.
将欲弱之,
Jiāng yù ruò zhī,
To weaken something,
必固强之;
Bì gù qiáng zhī;
Allow it first to be strong.
将欲废之,
Jiāng yù fèi zhī,
To eliminate something,
必固兴之;
Bì gù xīng zhī;
Allow it first to flourish.
将欲取之,
Jiāng yù qǔ zhī,
To take something,
必固与之。
Bì gù yǔ zhī.
Allow it first to be given.
是谓微明
Shì wèi wēi míng
This is called subtle insight.
柔胜刚,
Róu shèng gāng,
The soft overcomes the hard,
弱胜强。
Ruò shèng qiáng.
The weak prevails over the strong.
鱼不可脱于渊,
Yú bù kě tuō yú yuān,
Fish must stay in deep waters,
国之利器,
Guó zhī lì qì,
A nation's sharp tools,
不可以示人。
Bù kě yǐ shì rén.
Should not be shown to others.