This is called subtle and obscure insight. [wise,sight] What is soft and weak conquers what is hard and strong. [victorious,beats] Fish can not escape from the deep; The sharp toolsB of the nation ♦Can2 not be shown to the people. Notes A : while the majority symbol here means “inhale”, MWD/A uses a symbol meaning to “pick up” or “collect” B : presumably, weapons; compare to #80, where there is no place to display armor and weapons Cross-references weak : #3, #29, #40, #55, #76, #78 strong : #3, #29, #30, #33, #52, #55, #67, #78 soft : #10, #43, #52, #55, #76, #78 hard : #43, #76, #78 soft conquers hard : #43, #78 sharp tools : #57 Chapter Thirty Seven 道 常 無 為 • 而 無 不 為 • 侯 王 若 能 守 之 萬 物 將 自 化 化 而 欲 作 吾 將 鎮 之 以 無 名 之 樸 無 名 之 樸 夫 亦 將 無 欲 不 欲 以 靜 天 下 將 自 定 • Dao ever-constantly practices non-action, Yet nothing is left undone. If nobles and kings could maintain it, The ten thousand creatures would naturally transform. Transform, and if desire arises, I would restrain it by means of the nameless uncarved block. In the state of the nameless uncarved block, Men also would be without-desire. Not desiring, thus they would be still – And the world would naturally settle. Dao ever-constantly [practices] non-action, Yet nothing is left undone2. [not made,become,act] If noblesA and kings could maintain it, ♦The ten thousand creatures would naturally transform. ♦Transform, and if desire arises, I would restrain it by means of the nameless2B [à] uncarved block. [subdue,supress] [without-name] In the [state of the] nameless2B [à] uncarved block, [without-name] Men also would be without-desire. Not desiring, thus they would be still – And the world2 would naturally settle. Notes A : specifically, a Marquis (see #32) B : this is actually “without-name” (see the Introduction and cross-references below), but cannot be easily worded that way here Cross-references always/ever-constantly without X : #1, #32, #34 non-action : #2, #3, #38, #43, #48, #57, #63, #64 yet nothing is left undone : #48 nobles (in general) : #32, #39, #42, #62, #80 if nobles and kings could maintain it : #32 ten thousand creatures would naturally… : #32 without-name : #1, #32, #41 uncarved block : #15, #19, #28, #32, #57 uncarved block brings without-desire : #57 without-desire : #1, #3, #34, #57 stillness : #15, #16, #26, #45, #57, #61 Chapter Thirty Eight