Tao Te Ching Ch.78: Nothing Is Softer Than Water (柔之胜刚)

天tiān下xià莫mò柔róu弱ruò于yú水shuǐ，而ér攻gōng坚jiān强qiáng者zhě莫mò之zhī能néng胜shèng，以yǐ其qí无wú以yǐ易yì之zhī。

1There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water, and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it;--for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed.

弱ruò之zhī胜shèng强qiáng，柔róu之zhī胜shèng刚gāng，天tiān下xià莫mò不bù知zhī，莫mò能néng行xíng。

2Every one in the world knows that the soft overcomes the hard, and the weak the strong, but no one is able to carry it out in practice.

是shì以yǐ圣shèng人rén云yún：受shòu国guó之zhī垢gòu，是shì谓wèi社shè稷jì主zhǔ；受shòu国guó不bù祥xiáng，是shì为wéi天tiān下xià王wáng。

3Therefore a sage has said, 'He who accepts his state's reproach, Is hailed therefore its altars' lord; To him who bears men's direful woes They all the name of King accord.'

正zhèng言yán若ruò反fǎn。

4Words that are strictly true seem to be paradoxical.