Chapter 36 · The Soft Overcomes the Hard

Tao Te Ching (Legge, 1891) · chapter title added by Learn the Dao

Learn the Dao: a quiet practice for learning the thing that can’t be known.

The chapter’s first line

When one is about to take an inspiration,

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This chapter in plain modern English — David Kooi’s rendering ↓

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.

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Chapter 36, in a second rendering

Let It Puff All the Way Up

Dao De Kooi — an original rendering by David Kooi

Want something to shrink? Let it puff all the way up first. Want it weak? Let it get strong. Want it gone? Let it flourish. Want to take? Give first. Call it seeing how the current actually runs. The soft and quiet outlasts the hard and loud. A fish is a fool to leave the deep water. And the sharp tools a state runs on - you don't wave those around in public.

Next · Chapter 37The Tao in its regular course does nothing (for the sake of doing it)…Read chapter 37 →

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