“ Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard. Plants are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible is a disciple of death. Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail. ”
Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching (4th century BC). copy citation
| Author | Lao Tzu |
|---|---|
| Source | Tao Te Ching |
| Topic | hardness softness flexibility |
| Date | 4th century BC |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Stephen Mitchell |
| Weblink | https://terebess.hu/english/tao/mitchell.html |
Context
“When taxes are too high, people go hungry.
When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit. Act for the people's benefit.
Trust them; leave them alone.
76 Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plats are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
77 As it acts in the world, the Tao is like the bending of a bow.
” source
When the government is too intrusive, people lose their spirit. Act for the people's benefit.
Trust them; leave them alone.
76 Men are born soft and supple; dead, they are stiff and hard.
Plats are born tender and pliant; dead, they are brittle and dry. Thus whoever is stiff and inflexible
is a disciple of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding is a disciple of life. The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
77 As it acts in the world, the Tao is like the bending of a bow.
” source
Meaning and analysis
