महाभारत - शान्ति - मृदु तीक्ष्णा

मृदुमप्यवमन्यंते तीक्ष्णा दुद्विजते जनः ।
मा तीक्ष्णो मा मृदुर्भूस्त्वं तीक्ष्णो भव मृदुर्भव ॥

- महाभारत, शान्ति

mRudum api avamanyante tIkShNA dudvijate janaH ।
mA tIkShNo mA mRudur bhUH tvam tIkShNo bhava mRuduH bhava ॥

- mahAbhArata, shAnti

One must not be too soft. People will ridicule them. One must not be too aggressive. People will be anxious around them. One must not be too soft or too aggressive always. One must be soft and aggressive as required.

- Mahabharata, Shanti