人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强。草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。是以兵强则灭，木强则折。强大处下，柔弱处上。

Te Ching Chapter Seventy-six

When a man is alive, he is soft and supple.

When he dies, the body becomes hard and stiff.

When a plant is alive, it is soft and flexible.

When it is dead, it becomes dry and brittle.

Therefore, hard and rigid shall lead to death.

Soft and gentle shall lead to life.

Thus, a strong army with rigid force shall not win.

A thick and big tree will be cut down for its use.

The big and strong will take an inferior position.

The soft and gentle will take superior position.