Chapter 36
"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 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.
The instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people."
- Translated by James Legge, 1891, Chapter 36
"That which is about to contract has surely been expanded.
That which is about to weaken has surely been strengthened.
That which is about to fall has surely been raised.
That which is about to be despoiled has surely been endowed.
This is an explanation of the secret that the tender and the weak conquer the hard and the strong.
As the fish should not escape from the deep, so with the country's sharp tools the people should not become acquainted."
- Translated by Daisetsu Teitaro Suzuki and Paul Carus, 1913, Chapter 36
"Whatever is gathered in
Must first be stretched out;
Whatever is weakened
Must first be made strong;
Whatever is abandoned
Must first be joined;
Whatever is taken away
Must first be given.
This is what is called the subtle within what is evident.
The soft and weak vanquish the hard and strong.
Fishes should not relinquish the depths.
The sharpest instruments of state should not be revealed to others."
- Translated by Roger T. Ames and Donald L. Hall, 2003, Chapter 36
"When you wish to contract something,
You must momentarily expand it;
When you wish to weaken something,
You must momentarily strengthen it;
When you wish to reject something,
You must momentarily join with it;
When you wish to seize something,
You must momentarily give it up.
This is called "subtle insight."
The soft and weak conquer the strong.
Fish cannot be removed from the watery depths;
The profitable instruments of state cannot be shown to the people."
- Translated by Victor H. Mair, 1990, Chapter 36
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