第六十一章   卑謙取上

大國(guó)者下流，天下之交，天下之牝。牝常以靜勝牡，以靜為下。
故大國(guó)以下小國(guó)，則取小國(guó)。小國(guó)以下大國(guó)，則取大國(guó)。故或下以取，或下而取。大國(guó)不過欲兼畜人，小國(guó)不過欲入事人。夫兩者各得其所欲，大者宜為下。

 [譯文]

大國(guó)要像江河的下游那樣，處在交匯的位置，使百川交匯在這里。雌柔常以安靜無爭(zhēng)而勝過雄強(qiáng)，就是因?yàn)樗嶙尩木壒省Ｋ?，大?guó)對(duì)小國(guó)謙讓，就可以取得小國(guó)的信賴；小國(guó)對(duì)大國(guó)謙下，就可以取得大國(guó)的包容。所以，或大國(guó)對(duì)小國(guó)包容而獲信任，或小國(guó)對(duì)大國(guó)謙下而得依賴。大國(guó)不過分地統(tǒng)治小國(guó)，小國(guó)不過分地依賴大國(guó)。

兩方面各得所求，相安無事。要想成就大國(guó)之儀，首先要先學(xué)會(huì)謙讓。

StayingLow to Gain Domination

A large country is like low land where rivers flow, a place whereeverything comes together, the female of all. The female overcomes the malewith tranquillity. Tranquillity is underneath.

Hence,is a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win overthe small country; and if a small country can lower itself before a greatcountry,

it willgain the protection of a great country.

Thus one win by placing himself below, and the other win by being below.

After all, what a big state wants is but to annex and herd others, Andwhat a small state wants is merely to join and serve others. What a big countrywants is but to shelter others, And what a small country wants is but to beable to come in and be sheltered. What a great country wants is simply toembrace more people; and what a small country wants is simply to come to serveits patron.

Yet whata larger country wants is to unite and shelte others,

and whata small organization wants

is tojoin and to be sheltered.

Thus both get what they want. A large country ought to place itself low.