CHINESE ORIGINAL
将欲歙之，必固张之；将欲弱之，必固强之；将欲废之，必固兴之；将欲夺之，必固与之。
是谓微明。
柔弱胜刚强。
鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。
ENGLISH · JAMES LEGGE, 1891
When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a (previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he will first have made gifts to him:--this is called 'Hiding the light (of his procedure).'
The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.
Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people.
READ IN CONTEXT
Paradox
Fullness can look empty; strength can emerge from yielding. Follow the reversals that make the Tao Te Ching both unsettling and illuminating.
Paradox