Yield and Remain Whole
The Text
曲则全，枉则直，洼则盈，敝则新，少则得，多则惑。是以圣人抱一为天下式。不自见，故明；不自是，故彰；不自伐，故有功；不自矜，故长。夫唯不争，故天下莫能与之争。
Yield and remain whole; bend and stay straight; hollow and be filled; worn and be renewed; few and possess; much and be led astray. The wise embrace the one and become a model for the world — not displaying themselves, so they shine; not asserting, so they are seen; not boasting, so they get credit; not claiming, so they endure. Because they do not contend, no one under heaven can contend with them.
Reading it
A list of trades: each loss buys something the loser could not have gotten by holding firm. The last line is mechanics, not mysticism — contention requires a counterpart, and one who will not play gives nothing to push against.
一组交换：每一份让出，换回强硬者拿不到的东西。末句是力学而非玄学——争需要对手，不肯下场的人无物可推。
Give way in one argument this week where you were right. See what being right was costing you.
这周在一次争论里让路——在你正确的地方。看看「正确」此前在让你付出什么。