Nothing in the world is as soft and weak as water.

But when attacking the hard and strong

Nothing can conquer so easily.

...

Weak overcomes the strong,

Soft overcomes hard.

...

Everyone know this,

No one attains it.

...

Therefore the Sage says:

Accept a country's filth

And become master of its sacred soil.

Accept a country's ill-fortune

And become kind under heaven.

...

True words resemble their opposites.