第三十六章
微明
将欲歙之，必固张之；
将欲弱之，必固强之；
将欲废之，必固兴之；
将欲夺之，必固与之。
是谓微明。
柔弱胜刚强。
鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。
王弼注
英译 · James Legge
Minimising the light
When one is about to take an inspiration, he is sure to make a (previous) expiration; when he is going to weaken another, he will first strengthen him; when he is going to overthrow another, he will first have raised him up; when he is going to despoil another, he will first have made gifts to him: - this is called 'Hiding the light (of his procedure).'
The soft overcomes the hard; and the weak the strong.
Fishes should not be taken from the deep; instruments for the profit of a state should not be shown to the people.
将欲歙之，必固张之；将欲弱之，必固强之；将欲废之，必固兴之；将欲夺之，必固与之。是谓微明。
将欲除强梁，去暴乱，当以此四者。因物之性，令其自戮，不假刑为大，以除将物也，故曰微明也。足其张，令之足而又求其张，则众所歙也，与其张之不足而改其求张者，愈益而已，反危。
柔弱胜刚强。鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。
利器，利国之器也。唯因物之性，不假刑以理物，器不可覩，而物各得其所，则国之利器也。示人者，任刑也。刑以利国，则失矣。鱼脱于渊则必见失矣。利国器而立刑以示人，亦必失也。