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 --— becausefor nothing can replacetake it.its Thusplace.

That the soft overcomes the hard, the weak overcomes the strong.strong In— allthere under Heaven,is no one under Heaven who does not know this, yet no one can practiceput it.it into practice.

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 misfortunecalamities of the state is called the sovereign of all under Heaven."

Straight words seem paradoxical.

Word Notes

• 攻 — "to attack": toTo assault, to batter.
• 垢 — "filth": grime,Grime, defilement.
• 社 — "altar of the earth god": theThe earth deity.
• 稷 — "altar of the grain god": theThe 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 dosurpass better.it. This is because,because givenwater water'sby its nature of flowingflows downward, thereand isnothing nocan changingchange it.this. 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 practiceput it.it into practice. Therefore the Sage said: "One who receivesbears the filth of the entire state is called the sovereignlord who sacrifices atof the altars of soil and grain. One who receivesbears the misfortunecalamities of the entire state is called the sovereign of all under Heaven." These are straight words, yet they seem asto if they aresay the opposite of what is true.opposite.

Discourse

To endurebear humiliation and place oneself beneath others, to abide in softness and weakness — this is what people loathe. They do not understand that only thewhat mostis softsoftest and most weakweakest can overcome thewhat mostis hardhardest and most strong.strongest.

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

Therefore, a person who abides in softness and weakness, who can endurebear 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 sovereignlord of the state and the sovereign of all under Heaven. He is certain to pursue well-being for the state and all under Heaven.