78	道德經:	天下莫柔弱於水，而攻堅強者莫之能勝，其無以易之。 弱之勝強，柔之勝剛，天下莫不知，莫能行。 是以聖人云：受國之垢，是謂社稷主；受國不祥，是謂天下王。正言若反。
	Dao De Jing:	(Things to be believed) There 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. Everyone 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. Therefore 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.' Words that are strictly true seem to be paradoxical.

Dao De Jing Chapter 78 - Sheets/Tovey

Nov 9 at 5:11 AM

78

Heaven below (the sacred body) is not as soft and yielding as water, yet can take on the rigid and violent.

Without its (the sacred body's) ability to overcome the rigid and the violent, it is nothing.

It replaces violence with gentleness.

It overcomes violence.

Tenderly it overcomes the unyielding.

Without knowing this, no one in Heaven below can progress.

The sages speak of guarding the community:

Dishonour comes from making sacrifices to the gods.

Preserve the community, not its omens.

It is correct to speak of Heaven below as what connects Heaven,

Humanity and Earth.

The words of the person who sacrifices backfire.