Softness Quotes

The gentlest thing in the world overcomes the hardest thing in the world. That which has no substance enters where there is no space. This shows the value of non-action. Teaching without words, performing without actions: that is the Master's way.

There is nothing softer and weaker than water, and yet there is nothing better for attacking hard and strong things.

Nothing is weaker than water, Yet for overcoming what is hard and strong, Nothing surpasses it.

A man is born gentle and weak. At death he is hard and stiff.

What has no substance can penetrate what has no opening.

The softest of stuff in the world, penetrates quickly the hardest, insubstantial, it enters where there is no room.

Water is the softest thing, yet it can penetrate mountains and earth. This shows clearly the principle of softness overcoming hardness.

Whatever is fluid, soft, and yielding will overcome whatever is rigid and hard. What is soft is strong.

The softest things in the world overcome the hardest things in the world. Through this I know the advantage of taking no action.

In this world, there is nothing softer or thinner than water. But to compel the hard and unyielding, it has no equal. That the weak overcomes the strong, that the hard gives way to the gentle - this everyone knows. Yet no one asks accordingly.

The softest in the world surpasses the hardest in the world.

Softness triumphs over hardness, feebleness over strength. What is more malleable is always superior over that which is immoveable. This is the principle of controlling things by going along with them, of mastery through adaptation.