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.