第七十八章
天下莫柔弱于水,而攻坚强者莫之能胜,其无以易之。
弱之胜强,柔之胜刚,
天下莫不知莫能行。
是以圣人云:
“受国之垢,是谓社稷主;
受国不祥,是为天下王。”
正言若反。
Chapter 78
Nothing in the world
is as soft and yielding as water.
Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible,
nothing can surpass it.
The soft overcomes the hard;
the gentle overcomes the rigid.
Everyone knows this is true,
but few can put it into practice.
Therefore the Master remains
serene in the midst of sorrow.
Evil cannot enter his heart.
Because he has given up helping,
he is people's greatest help.
True words seem paradoxical.