When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a (previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he will first have made gifts to him: this is called ‘Hiding the light (of his procedure).’
The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.
Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people.
Note
This chapter from Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) discusses examples of mutual transformation between opposing forces, embodying Laozi’s dialectical thought. This law of dynamic change originates from the natural world but also applies to human society. Laozi frequently juxtaposes natural dialectics with social phenomena to provoke vigilance and reflection.
Some interpret this chapter as discussing military tactics, while others view it as Laozi’s “expedient teaching method” for guiding people. The proposition that “the soft and weak overcome the hard and strong” has been widely applied across various practical domains.
Through profound observation of humans and phenomena, Laozi recognized that seemingly soft and weak entities inherently possess resilience, vigorous vitality, and vast developmental potential. Conversely, ostensibly strong and rigid things, due to their overt exposure, often lack sustainability and lose prospects for growth.
Notably, the principles of “non-contention”, “non-action”, and “embracing softness” presuppose the capacity to wield strength. They advocate resolving conflicts through indirect, skillful, and peaceful means while consciously adhering to gentleness and non-confrontation to achieve victory.
Further Reading
Chapter Forty introduces the principle of “Reversal is the movement of the Tao,” explicitly stating that all things transform toward their opposite. This directly resonates with the four sets of dialectical propositions in Chapter Thirty-Six, such as “That which is to be contracted must first be expanded.” While Chapter Forty summarizes the directional movement of the Tao from a philosophical perspective, Chapter Thirty-Six validates this principle through concrete examples (e.g., expansion/contraction, strength/weakness, rise/fall, giving/taking). Together, they construct the theoretical framework of “things reaching their extreme will reverse.”
Chapter Seventy-Eight states, “Nothing in the world is softer or weaker than water, yet nothing is better at overcoming the hard and strong.” It uses water as a metaphor to reinforce the argument that “the soft and weak overcome the hard and strong,” which reiterates the concept in Chapter Thirty-Six. Chapter Seventy-Eight elaborates on the idea of bearing “the disgrace of the state” to be its true master from a governance perspective, while Chapter Thirty-Six reveals the strategic wisdom of “the sharp instruments of the state should not be displayed” from a tactical viewpoint. Together, they expand the scope of the wisdom embodied in softness and weakness.
將欲歙之，必固張之；將欲弱之，必固強之；將欲廢之，必固興之；將欲奪之，必固與之。是謂微明。柔弱勝剛強。魚不可脫於淵，國之利器不可以示人。
Leave a Reply