CHINESE ORIGINAL
天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者，莫之能胜，其无以易之。
弱之胜强，柔之胜刚，天下莫不知莫能行。
是以圣人云：「受国之垢，是谓社稷主；受国不祥，是为天下王。
」正言若反。
ENGLISH · JAMES LEGGE, 1891
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.
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.
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.
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