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76
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.
Thus it is that firmness and strength are the concomitants of
death; softness and
weakness, the concomitants of life.
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.)
Therefore the place of
what is firm and strong is below, and that
of what is soft and weak is above.
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