Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, Chapter 36

Daodejing, Laozi
Chapter 36

"When one feels a desire to concentrate it in one's own heart, it is imperatively necessary to display it openly.
When one feels a desire to cultivate it in its pliant phase, it is imperatively necessary to fortify and strengthen one's own powers. 
When one feels a desire to abandon or neglect it, it is imperatively necessary to stir up one's mind afresh in its pursuit. 
If anyone feels a desire to obtain it, it is imperatively necessary that it should be imparted to him.
By this means, the hidden phases of Tao will become clear.
The weak and pliable overcomes the strong and hard.
A fish cannot leave the depths.
The treasures of a State should not be employed to influence the people."
-  Translated by Henry Balfour, 1884, 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    


"In order to contract a thing, one should surely expand it first.
 In order to weaken, one will surely strengthen first.
 In order to overthrow, one will surely exalt first.
 'In order to take, one will surely give first.'
 This is called subtle wisdom.
 The soft and the weak can overcome the hard and the strong.
 As the fish should not leave the deep
 So should the sharp implements of a nation not be shown to anyone."
 -  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 36  

"That which is to be shrunk
must first be stretched out.
That which is to be weakened
must first be strengthened.
That which is to be cast down
must first be raised up.
That which is to be taken
must first be given.

There is wisdom in dimming your light.
For the soft and gentle
will overcome the hard and powerful.

Fish are best left in deep waters.
And, weapons are best kept out of sight."
-  Translated by Tolbert McCarroll, 1982, Chapter 36

將欲歙之, 必固張之.
將欲弱之, 必固強之.
將欲廢之, 必固興之.
將欲奪之, 必固與之. 
是謂微明. 
柔弱勝剛強. 
魚不可脫於淵.
國之利器不可以示人. 
-  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 36


chiang yü hsi chih, pi ku chang chih.
chiang yü jo chih, pi ku ch'iang chih.
chiang yü fei chih, pi ku hsing chih.
chiang yü to chih, pi ku yü chih.
shih wei wei ming.
jou jo shêng kang ch'iang.
yü pu k'o t'o yü yüan.
kuo chih li ch'i, pu k'o yi shih jên.
-  Wade-Giles Romanization, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 36  



"If a thing is capable of being contracted, no doubt is was previously expanded;
 It a thing is capable of being weakened, no doubt it was previously strengthened.
 Exaltation precedes abasement.
 He who would take must first give.
 This is the Secret Law,
 Whereby the soft and the weak overcome the hard and the strong.
 Leave the fish in the depths of the water, out of harm's way;
 And leave the nation's sharpest weapons where they cannot be seen."
 -  Translated by Herman Ould, 1946, Chapter 36  



"If you want something to return to the source,
 you must first allow it to spread out.
 If you want something to weaken,
 you must first allow it to become strong.
 If you want something to be removed,
 you must first allow it to flourish.
 If you want to possess something,
 you must first give it away.
 This is called the subtle understanding
 of how things are meant to be.
 The soft and pliable overcomes the hard and inflexible.
 Just as fish remain hidden in deep waters,
 it is best to keep weapons out of sight."
 -  Translated by John H. McDonald, 1996, Chapter 36 
 
 
"Lo que ha de ser al final contraído, tiene que ser primero dilatado.
Lo que ha de ser al final debilitado, tiene que ser primero fortalecido.
Lo que ha de ser al final deschado, comienza por ser primero ensalzado. 
Lo que ha de ser al final despojado, comienza primero por ser dotado. 
Aguí radica la sutil sabiduria de la vida. 
Lo blando y lo débil triunfa sobre lo duro y lo fuerte. 
Lo mismo que el pez no debe abandonar las profundidades, el gobernante no debe mostrar sus armas."
-  Translation from Chinese to English by John C. H. Wu, translated into Spanish by Alfonso Colodrón, Capitulo 36 



"When about to inhale it is certainly necessary to open the mouth;
when about to weaken it is certainly necessary to strengthen;
when about to discard it is certainly necessary to promote;
when about to take away it is certainly necessary to impart – this is atomic perception.
The weak overcome the strong.
Fish cannot leave the deeps.
The innerness of the government cannot be shown to the people."
-  Translated by C. Spurgeon Medhurst, 1905, Chapter 36


"What is to be reduced,
Must first be expanded.
What is to be weakened,
Must first be made strong (ch'iang).
What is to be abolished,
Must first be established.
What is to be taken away,
Must first be given.
This is called the subtle illumination (wei ming).
The soft and weak overcome the hard and strong.
Fish must not leave the stream.
Sharp weapons (ch'i) of a state,
Must not be displayed."
-  Translated by Ellen Marie Chen, 2000, Chapter 36  

Chapter 36 of the Tao Te Ching

Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching

English Language Translators' Index

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: A Selected Reading List

 A typical webpage created by Mike Garofalo on a Chapter of the Tao Te Ching (Daodejing) by Lao Tzu (Laozi) includes at least 16 different translations or interpolations of the Chapter in English, two Spanish translations, the Chinese characters for the Chapter, a Wade-Giles and Hanyu Pinyin Romanization of the Mandarin Chinese words for the Chapter, recommended reading lists, a detailed bibliography; indexing by key words and terms for the Chapter in English, Spanish, and the Wade-Giles Romanization; some commentary, and other resources for the Chapter.