Chapter 78

Original Text

天下莫柔弱於水。而攻堅疆者。莫之能先。以其無以易之也。故柔之勝剛。弱之勝疆。天下莫不知。莫能行。是以聖人云。受國之垢。是謂社稷主。受國之不祥。是謂天下王。正言若反。

Translation

In all under Heaven, nothing is softer or weaker than water, yet in attacking the hard and the strong, nothing can surpass it -- because nothing can replace it. Thus the soft overcomes the hard, the weak overcomes the strong. In all under Heaven, no one does not know this, yet no one can practice it. Therefore the Sage says: "One who bears the filth of the state is called the lord of the altars of soil and grain. One who bears the misfortune of the state is called the sovereign of all under Heaven." Straight words seem paradoxical.

Word Notes

• 攻 — "to attack": to assault, to batter.
• 垢 — "filth": grime, defilement.
• 社 — "altar of the earth god": the earth deity.
• 稷 — "altar of the grain god": the grain deity.

Chapter Explanation

Of all things soft and weak under Heaven, nothing is softer or weaker than water. And yet in attacking the hard and breaking the strong, nothing can do better. This is because, given water's nature of flowing downward, there is no changing it. Therefore the soft can overcome the hard, and the weak can overcome the strong. No one in all under Heaven does not know this, yet no one is able to practice it. Therefore the Sage said: "One who receives the filth of the entire state is called the sovereign who sacrifices at the altars of soil and grain. One who receives the misfortune of the entire state is called the sovereign of all under Heaven." These are straight words, yet they seem as if they are the opposite of what is true.

Discourse

To endure humiliation and place oneself beneath others, to abide in softness and weakness — this is what people loathe. They do not understand that only the most soft and most weak can overcome the most hard and most strong.

Just look at water and you will understand. Among all things under Heaven, the hard can be made to break and the strong can be made to weaken. But water has already reached the extreme of softness and weakness — there is no way to further destroy it.

Therefore, a person who abides in softness and weakness, who can endure humiliation and place himself beneath others, must possess the capacity for tolerance. One who does not shy away from danger and hardship must possess the capacity for shouldering responsibility.

Such a person can serve as the sovereign of the state and all under Heaven. He is certain to pursue well-being for the state and all under Heaven.