The most yielding thing under heaven can prevail over the hardest and strongest things under heaven. The most yielding is water. The hardest and strongest are metal and stone. Water can penetrate the hard, enter the rigid, and reach everywhere without obstruction. Nothing can enter where there is no space. "Nothingness" refers to the Dao. The Dao has no form or substance, so it can enter and exit without obstruction, communicate with the divine, and benefit all living beings. I am therefore able to understand the benefits of non-action (wuwei). I see that the Dao, through non-action, allows all things to transform and become themselves naturally; therefore, I know that non-action is beneficial to people. Teaching without words, emulating the Dao's silence and setting an example through one's own conduct. The benefit of non-action, emulating the Dao's non-action: cultivating oneself brings benefits to one's spirit and energy; governing a state brings benefits to all the people without causing exhaustion or trouble. Few in the world can match it. "The world" refers to rulers or leaders of people. Few are able to match the wisdom of Laozi in cultivating oneself and governing a country.