1. man at his birth is supple and weak; at his death, firm and strong. (so it is with) all things. trees and plants, in their early growth, are soft and brittle; at their death, dry and withered.

2. thus it is that firmness and strength are the concomitants of death; softness and weakness, the concomitants of life.

3. hence he who (relies on) the strength of his forces does not conquer; and a tree which is strong will fill the out-stretched arms, (and thereby invites the feller.)

4. therefore the place of what is firm and strong is below, and that of what is soft and weak is above.

人之生也柔弱，其死也坚强；

草木之生也柔脆，其死也枯槁。

故坚强者死之徒，柔弱者生之徒。

是以兵强则灭，木强则折。

强大处下，柔弱处上。

【译文】

人活着的时候身体柔弱灵动，死了以后身体就变得顽固强硬；草木生长的时候枝干柔嫩，死了以后就变得枯槁。所以，顽固强硬是速死之道，柔弱灵动是生长之道。因此，国家肌体中军兵过强就会走向灭亡，植株体系中树枝过硬就会遭致摧折。顽固强硬处于劣势，柔弱灵动处于优势。