Laozi
天下莫柔弱於水，而攻堅強者莫之能勝， 其無以易之。弱之勝強，柔之勝剛， 天下莫不知，莫能行。 是以聖人云：受國之垢，是謂社稷主； 受國不祥，是謂天下王。 正言若反。
James Legge
There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it;—for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed.
Every one in the world knows that the soft overcomes the hard, and the weak the strong, but no one is able to carry it out in practice.
Therefore a sage has said, ‘He who accepts his state’s reproach, Is hailed therefore its altars’ lord; To him who bears men’s direful woes They all the name of King accord.‘
Words that are strictly true seem to be paradoxical.
Victor H. Mair
Nothing under heaven is softer or weaker than water, and yet nothing is better for attacking what is hard and strong, because of its immutability. The defeat of the hard by the soft, The defeat of the strong by the weak - this is known to all under heaven, yet no one is able to practice it. Therefore, in the words of the sage, it is said: “He who bears abuse directed against the state is called ‘lord of the altars for the gods of soil and grain’; He who bears the misfortunes of the state is called the ‘king of all under heaven.‘” True words seem contradictory.
C. Spurgeon Medhurst
Nothing is so flexible as water, yet for attacking that which is hard nothing surpasses it. There is nothing which supplants it.
The weak overcome the strong, the soft control the hard. Every one knows this, but no one practises it. [^1]
Hence a Sage has said—‘Who bears his country’s reproach is hailed as the lord of his nation’s altars. Who bears his country’s misfortunes is called the Empire’s chief.‘
Truth, when expressed in speech, appears paradoxical. [^2]
Said St. Paul: “When I am weak then am I strong.” “For we also are weak with him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you."
"Measure thy love by loss instead of gain; Not by the wine drunk, but by the wine poured forth, For love’s strength standeth in love’s sacrifice, And whoso suffers most hath most to give.”
[^1]
“The Tongue is an instrument yielding and pliant Yet safe in the mouth it ever remains, While the teeth are inflexible, hard and defiant, And frequently broken to pay for their pains.”—Chinese Ode, quoted by Arthur Smith in his Chinese Proverbs.
[^2] This sentence more properly belongs to the next chapter. Cf. chap. 70.
Ursula K. Le Guin
Nothing in the world is as soft, as weak, as water; nothing else can wear away the hard, the strong, and remain unaltered. Soft overcomes hard, weak overcomes strong. Everybody knows it, nobody uses the knowledge.
So the wise say: By bearing common defilements you become a sacrificer at the altar of earth; by bearing common evils you become a lord of the world.
Right words sound wrong.