将欲歙之

Wang Bi (226–249 EC)

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. The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.