Nothing under heaven is as

soft and yielding as water.

Yet for attacking the hard and strong,

nothing can compare with it.

The weak overcomes the strong.

The soft overcomes the hard.

Everyone knows this, but none

have the ability to practice it.

Therefore the sage says:

One who accepts the dung of the nation

becomes the master of soil and sustenance.

One who deals with the evils of the nation

becomes king under heaven

True words seem paradoxical.