Chapter 76 |
人之生也柔弱,其死也堅強。萬物草木之生也柔脆,其死也枯槁。故堅強者死之徒,柔弱者生之徒。是以兵強則不勝,木強則兵,強大處下,柔弱處上。 |
ren zhi sheng ye rou ruo |
While people are living, their bodies are fragile and lithe. |
qi si ye jian qiang |
When they die, their bodies will be hard and rigid. |
wan wu cao mu zhi |
In the wilderness, while all animals and plants are living, they are lithe. |
qi si ye ku gao |
When they die, they will become withered. |
gu jian qiang zhe si zhi tu |
Therefore, being hard and rigid is the way to die. |
rou ruo zhe sheng zhi tu |
Being fragile and lithe is the way to live. |
shi yi bing qiang ze bu sheng |
Anyone using strong force to conquer will never prevail. |
mu qiang ze bing |
Trees growing strong enough will only be doomed to be axed. |
qiang da chu xia |
Therefore, staying hard and rigid will get you the lower hand. |
rou ruo chu shang |
Staying fragile and lithe will get you the upper hand. |