天下莫柔弱於水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜，以其无以易之。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，是為天下王。」正言若反。

Te Ching Chapter Seventy-eight

There is nothing in this world that is softer and meeker than water.

Even those that can conquer the strong and hard,

Are still not superior than water.

Nothing can substitute it.

Hence, what is soft can overcome the strong.

What is gentle can overcome the strength.

This is known by the world.

However, people cannot put it into practice.

Therefore, the saint said as follow:

He who can take the disgrace of a nation,

Is said to be the master of the nation.

He who can bear the misfortune of a nation,

Is said to be the ruler of the world.

Truthful words may seem to be the reverse of worldly practices.