Tao Te Ching · Ch. 36

將欲歙之,必固張之;將欲弱之,必固強之;將欲廢之,必固興之;將欲取之,必固與之。是謂微明。柔弱勝剛強。魚不可脫於淵;國之利器不可以示人。

Jiāng yù xī zhī, bì gù zhāng zhī; Jiāng yù ruò zhī, bì gù qiáng zhī; Jiāng yù fèi zhī, bì gù xīng zhī; Jiāng yù qǔ zhī, bì gù yǔ zhī. Shì wèi wēi míng. Róu ruò shèng gāng qiáng. Yú bù kě tuō yú yuān; Guó zhī lì qì bù kě yǐ shì rén.

What you wish to shrink, you must first allow to expand. What you wish to weaken, you must first allow to strengthen. What you wish to cast aside, you must first allow to flourish. What you wish to take, you must first give. This is called subtle illumination. The soft and yielding overcome the hard and strong. A fish should not leave the deep — the sharp instruments of the state should not be displayed to the people.

— Tao Te Ching 36

Source: Wang Bi edition (Chinese) + Hanyu Pinyin transliteration