兵强则灭，木强则折。强大处下，柔弱处上。
《老子)第76章
An army will be shattered when it becomes strong ;trees will snap when they grow strong. The hard and strong are cast down ;the soft and weak are set on high.
[注释]
兵强则灭，木强则折:奚侗《老子集解》日:“兵强则以杀伐为事，终致灭亡。各本多作‘兵强则不胜’，非是。木强则失柔韧之性，易致断折。”
老子主张守柔处弱，不贵坚强。
[译文]
兵力强大反而会灭亡，树木高大就会折断。坚强开始向柔弱转化，故处于下降状态;柔弱开始向坚强转化，故处于上升状态。