第 36 章 / 共 81 章
微明
將欲歙之，必固張之；將欲弱之，必固強之；將欲廢之，必固興之；將欲夺之，必固與之。是謂微明。柔弱勝剛強。魚不可脱於淵，國之利器不可以示人。
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.