Religion
Chapter 76
Translated by James Legge (1891) · From The Tao Teh King (1891)
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.
Codex Note
Prose translation of a largely rhymed original, with occasional rhymed renderings by Legge; words in parentheses are his supplied additions.
Cite this poem
MLA
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 76.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/75/.
Chicago
Laozi (Lao Tzu). “Chapter 76.” Translated by James Legge. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/laozi/75/.
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