Tao Te Ching
Tao Te Ching, Chapter 36
Chapter 36 of Tao Te Ching translated by James Legge (1893)
Translation
36. 1. 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).'
2. The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.
3. Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people.
Practical Reading
What is about to shrink can be expanded; what is about to weaken can be strengthened. This describes the cycle of rise and fall. In strategy, understanding counterforces reveals opportunities. Strength contains the seeds of weakness.