--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Thirty-six. If you want to shrink…" description: "\"“Thirty-six. If you want to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you want to get rid of something, you must allow it to flourish. If you want..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/james-frey-1108_shrink_thirty-six-if-you-want-to-shrink-somethi_134873.png" --- # Thirty-six. If you want to shrink something, you must… ![“Thirty-six. If you want to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you want to get rid of something, you must allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must allow it to be given. The soft will overcome the hard. The slow will beat the fast. Don't tell people the way, just…” quote by James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/james-frey-1108_shrink_thirty-six-if-you-want-to-shrink-somethi_134873.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/james-frey-1108_shrink_thirty-six-if-you-want-to-shrink-somethi_134873.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/961/james-frey-1108_shrink_thirty-six-if-you-want-to-shrink-somethi_134873.png) > ““Thirty-six. If you want to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you want to get rid of something, you must allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must allow it to be given. The soft will overcome the hard. The slow will beat the fast. Don't tell people the way, just show them the results.”” [James Frey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-frey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. To shrink something, first expand it; to eliminate, let it flourish; to take, allow giving; softness over hardness; slowness over speed; show results, not instructions. **In simple terms:** Transformation requires paradoxical actions and demonstration. Key Takeaway Act paradoxically, demonstrate outcomes. Themes growth paradox leadership Mood thoughtful instructive philosophical Type advice strategic motivational When to use this quote - personal development - management - teaching Key Concepts expansion before reduction allowing growth soft power slow tactics results‑focused Questions to Reflect On - How can expansion lead to reduction? - When is softness more effective? A Different Perspective Complex advice may be confusing. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Taoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taoism/) ## Related quotes > [“Families shrink and expand. 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Bick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilsa-j-bick/) > [A runway is like a shrink's couch; stuff just comes out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-horyn/a-runway-is-like-a-shrink-s-couch-stuff-just-comes-out/) Cathy Horyn > [The ministry is a weight from which even an angel might shrink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-augustine/the-ministry-is-a-weight-from-which-even-an-angel-might-shrink/) [Saint Augustine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-augustine/) > [“Families shrink and expand. 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Instead, we focus on controlling ourselves.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kuypers/to-not-judge-is-to-be-like-a-peach-we-shrink-our-space-by-giving-up/) [John Kuypers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kuypers/) Browse all 150 Shrink quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Thirty-six. If you want to shrink something, you must first expand it. If you want to get rid of something, you must allow it to flourish. If you want to take something, you must allow it to be given. The soft will overcome the hard. The slow will beat the fast. 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