The Power of Reversal
Opposites give rise to each other — to diminish, one must first uplift. The Tao works through paradox and subtlety the soft overcomes the hard, and true power hides its strength.
To breathe in,
you must first breathe out.
To weaken something,
first support it.
To bring something down,
first lift it up.
To take from someone,
first give to them.
This is called
“concealing the light.”
The soft overcomes the hard.
The weak overcomes the strong.
Just as deep water hides the fish,
powerful tools for governing
should not be displayed.
