《道德经》第三十六章
将欲歙之，必故张之﹔将欲弱之，必故强之﹔
将欲废之，必故兴之﹔将欲取之，必故与之。
是谓微明。柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。
《Tao-Te Ching》Chapter 36
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.
【易解】
想要收束它，必须暂且扩张它；想要削弱它，必须暂且增强它；想要废黜它，必须暂且兴举它；想要执取它，必须暂且给予它。这就叫做不引人注意的明道境地，是柔弱战胜刚强的机理所在。鱼不可以离开深厚的水体而生存，国家的有效力的凭恃不可以轻易展示于人。
道德经全文及译文