第七十六章 柔生强死人之生也柔弱,其死也坚强。 万物草木之生也柔脆,其死也枯槁。 故坚强者死之徒,柔弱者生之徒。 是以兵强则不胜,木强则折。 强大处下,柔弱处上。The Soft Life and Stiff DeathWhen man is born, he istender and weak; At death, he is hard and stiff.All things, the gra
第七十五章 民生为上民之饥,以其上食税之多,是以饥。 民之难治,以其上之有为,是以难治。 民之轻死,以其上求生之厚,是以轻死。 夫唯无以生为者,是贤于贵生。 Actingfor PeoplePeople are hungry, because rulers eat too much tax-grain. That is whypeople are starving.People are hard
第七十四章 恩威有度民不畏死,奈何以死惧之?若使民常畏死,而为奇者,吾得而杀之,孰敢? 常有司杀者杀,夫代司杀者杀,是谓代大匠斫,夫代大匠斫者,希有不伤其手矣。 [译文] 压迫到了极限人民就不畏惧死亡了,又怎能用杀人的手段来威胁他们?百姓惧怕死亡,对于那些违法乱纪的,就以律法将其捉拿而杀掉,谁还敢违法乱纪?应设专人执行的处决罪犯的任务。代替专职人员去执行惩处是不可取的,就如同带代替木匠去砍木头一样
第七十三章 疏而不漏勇于敢则杀,勇于不敢则活。此两者,或利或害。天之所恶,孰知其故?天之道,不争而善胜,不言而善应,不召而自来,繟然而善谋。天网恢恢,疏而不失。Nature’s NetThose bold in breakingNatural Laws will die,those bold in acting inaccoedance with the Natural laws will sur
第七十二章 水可覆舟民不畏威,则大威至。无狎其所居,无厌其所生。夫唯不厌,是以不厌。 是以圣人自知不自见,自爱不自贵。故去彼取此。WaterSwallows Boats OccationallyWhen people lack a sense of awe, then something awful will happen.If peopleno longer have fear for auth
第七十一章 圣人病病知不知,尚矣;不知知,病矣。圣人不病,以其病病,夫唯病病,是以不病。Get Rid of Faults by Knowing ThemTo know what you know is limited is proper.To assume that you know all is stupidity.Enlightened Individuals are free of fau
第七十章 被褐怀玉吾言甚易知,甚易行。天下莫能知,莫能行。言有宗,事有君。夫唯无知,是以不我知。知我者希,则我者贵。是以圣人被褐而怀玉。Jade Under Coarse ClothMy ideas are easyto understand and easy to practice. Yet no one understands them or practicesthem.My doctrine
第六十九章 慎行包容 用兵有言:吾不敢为主而为客,不敢进寸而退尺。是谓行无行,攘无臂,执无兵, 扔无敌。 祸莫大于轻敌,轻敌几丧吾宝。 故抗兵相若,哀者胜矣。 Cautious MoveThe strategists say, "Do not be the aggressor but the defender. Donot advance an inch, but retreat a f
第六十八章 处下用人善为士者不武,善战者不怒,善胜敌者不与,善用人者为之下。是谓不争之德,是谓用人之力,是谓配天。古之极。 Generating Productivity byStaying lowA skilful leader of troops is not oppressive with his military strength.A skilful fighter does not be
第六十七章 三宝护身 天下皆谓我道大,似不肖。夫唯大,故似不肖。若肖,久矣其细也夫! 我有三宝,持而保之:一曰慈,二曰俭,三曰不敢为天下先。 慈,故能勇;俭,故能广;不敢为天下先,故能成事长。 今舍慈且勇,舍俭且广,舍后且先,死矣!夫慈,以战则胜,以守则固。天将救之,以慈卫之。 TheProtection of My Three TreasuresAll the world says that m