10 January 2024

The secret's explanation

 



[That which] is going to desire [viz., to have the tendency] to contract itself,
surely assuredly has extended itself.
[That which] is going to desire to weaken itself,
surely assuredly [has] strengthened itself.
[That which] is going to desire to ruin itself,
surely assuredly has raised itself.
[That which] is going to intend to deprive itself,
surely assuredly [it has] endowed itself.

This is called the secret's explanation.
The tender [and] the weak conquer the stiff [and] the strong.

[As] the fish not should escape from the deep,
[so] the empire's sharp tools not should thereby be shown to the people.






No comments: