"All living things, grass and trees, / While alive, are soft and supple / When dead, become dry and brittle / Thus that which is hard and stiff is the follower of death / That which is soft and yielding is the follower of life / Therefore, an inflexible army will not win / A strong tree will be cut down / The big and forceful occupy a lowly position / While the soft and pliant occupy a higher place"
- Tao Te Ching