Although there are weapons for tens and hundreds of soldiers, they will not be used.

From now back to antiquity, its (Tao's) name has not been lost. Thereby, see the origin of all.

Weapons are ominous tools. They are not the noble ruler's tools. He only uses them when he can't avoid it.

The sage does not act and therefore does not fail, does not seize and therefore does not lose.

People starve. The rulers consume too much with their taxes. That is why people starve.

The sage knows without traveling, perceives without looking, completes without acting.

Water is fluid, soft, and yielding. But water will wear away rock, which is rigid and cannot yield. As a rule, whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. This is another paradox: what is soft is strong.