Tao Te Ching · Chapter 67

天下皆謂我道大，似不肖。夫唯大，故似不肖。若肖，久矣其細也夫！
我有三寶，持而保之。一曰慈，二曰儉，三曰不敢為天下先。
慈故能勇，
儉故能廣，
不敢為天下先，故能成器長。
今舍慈且勇，
舍儉且廣，舍後且先，死矣！
夫慈以戰則勝，
以守則固。天將救之，以慈衛之。

All the world says that, while my Tao is great, it yet appears
to be inferior (to other systems of teaching). Now it is just its
greatness that makes it seem to be inferior. If it were like any
other (system), for long would its smallness have been known!

But I have three precious things which I prize and hold fast. The
first is gentleness; the second is economy; and the third is shrinking
from taking precedence of others.

With that gentleness I can be bold; with that economy I can be
liberal; shrinking from taking precedence of others, I can become a
vessel of the highest honour. Now-a-days they give up gentleness and
are all for being bold; economy, and are all for being liberal; the
hindmost place, and seek only to be foremost;--(of all which the end
is) death.

Gentleness is sure to be victorious even in battle, and firmly to
maintain its ground. Heaven will save its possessor, by his (very)
gentleness protecting him.