an arrogant army tends to be destroyed

When alive, the human body is soft and supple; in death, it becomes stiff and cold.

Plants grow tender and vibrant when alive, but turn brittle and withered when dead.
Thus, hardness and rigidity belong to the realm of death, while softness and gentleness embody the essence of life.

Therefore:
An army that relies on brute strength will meet destruction; a tree that grows too tall will inevitably break.
What is rigid and forceful occupies a lower position (easily subdued), while what is soft and yielding rises to the top (harmonizing with nature).

(Note: This chapter uses natural phenomena—human bodies and plants—to illustrate Laozi’s dialectical philosophy of "valuing softness and embracing weakness." Centered on the idea that "the soft overcomes the hard," it emphasizes the wisdom of harmonizing with nature and avoiding contention. Metaphors like "a rigid tree breaks easily" and "strong winds cannot uproot tender grass" vividly convey the Daoist principles of "advancing by yielding" and "true strength lies in gentleness.")**