# Strength and receptiveness: summary

Pairs knowledge of strength with receptiveness and values plainness before fragmentation.

https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/laozi/chapter-28-strength-and-receptiveness

## Source and summary

[Laozi · Dao De Jing · Strength and receptiveness](https://zh.wikisource.org/w/index.php?title=%E9%81%93%E5%BE%B7%E7%B6%93%20%28%E7%8E%8B%E5%BC%BC%E6%9C%AC%29&oldid=2354026#%E4%BA%8C%E5%8D%81%E5%85%AB%E7%AB%A0)

> 知其雄，守其雌，為天下谿。為天下谿，常德不離，復歸於嬰兒。

Pairs knowledge of strength with receptiveness and values plainness before fragmentation.

## Editorial interpretation

The example below adapts this chapter’s questions to modern work. Evaluate it against the actual purpose and conditions; ancient politics, warfare or ethics do not establish business results.

## Business application

Maintain expertise while hearing other departments’ difficulties and identifying work lost at boundaries.

1. Choose one relevant case and record its objective, available resources, verified facts and unknowns.
2. Compare options using this chapter’s perspective; choose a limited trial, owner, deadline and a measure to assess the result.

Deliverable: A comparison using strength and receptiveness, with conditions for acting or declining.

## Limits

The summary selects main points rather than translating every sentence. The example is not a demonstrated business method; check it against stakeholders’ conditions and actual evidence.

## Validation question

How does this chapter’s perspective change the selected option or priority, and what further evidence could change the decision?

[Laozi: a guide to the Dao De Jing](https://sakimyto.com/en/classics/laozi)

[This material](https://sakimyto.com/classics-data/entries/laozi/chapter-28-strength-and-receptiveness.en.md)

Updated: 2026-10-13 · v1.0.0