Chapter 78
第七十八章
There is nothing in the world more soft and weak than water,
天下莫柔弱于水，
and yet for attacking things that are firm and strong there is nothing that can take precedence of it;
而攻坚强者若之能胜。
for there is nothing (so effectual) for which it can be changed.
其无以易之。

Every 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.
柔之胜刚，弱之胜强，天下莫不知，莫能行。
Therefore a sage has said,
是以圣人云：
'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.'
“受国之垢，是谓社稷主。受国之不详，是谓天下王。”
Words that are strictly true seem to be paradoxical.
正言若反。