A man is
born gentle and weak.
At his death he is hard and
stiff.
Green plants are tender and
filled with sap.
At their death they are
withered and dry.
Therefore the stiff and
unbending is the disciple of death.
The gentle and yielding is
the disciple of life.
Thus an army without
flexibility never wins a battle.
A tree that is unbending is
easily broken.
The hard and strong will
fall.
The soft and weak will
overcome. 
by: Lau Tsu,
6th Century BC, with many thanks to Tommy.
