Men are born soft and supple;
dead , they are stiff, low and hard.
Plants are born tender and plaint;
dead , they are brittle and dry.
Thus, whoever is stiff and inflexible
Is a discipline of death.
Whoever is soft and yielding,
Is discipline of life.
The hard and stiff will be broken.
The soft and supple will prevail.
– Lao Tzu
