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Tao te Ching

76 When a man is alive, he is soft and supple. When he dies, the body becomes hard and stiff. When a plant is alive, it is soft and flexible. When it is dead, it becomes dry and brittle. Therefore, hard and rigid shall lead to death. Soft and gentle shall lead to life. Thus, a strong army with rigid force shall not win. A thick and big tree will be cut down for its use. The big and strong will take an inferior position. The soft and gentle will take superior position.

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