第六十一章

大国者下流。天下之交，天下之牝。牝常以静胜牡，以静为下。故大国以下小国，则取小国；小国以下大国，则取大国。故或下以取，或下而取。大国不过欲兼畜人，小国不过欲入事人，夫两者各得其所欲，大者宜为下。

A great state is like a low-lying land where rivers flow, the meeting point of the world, the feminine of the world. The feminine always overcomes the masculine through stillness, taking the lower position through stillness. Therefore, if a great state takes a lower position before a small state, it wins the allegiance of the small state. If a small state takes a lower position before a great state, it gains the support of the great state. Thus one lowers itself to gain; the other is low and thereby gains. A great state desires no more than to unite and nurture people; a small state desires no more than to enter and serve. If each gets what it wants, the great state should take the lower position.

白话译文

大国应该像处在江河的下游一样。它是天下汇集的地方，是天下的母性力量。母性力量总是以安静胜过雄性，因为安静就是处于低下的位置。所以大国对小国谦下，就能取得小国的信赖；小国对大国谦下，就能取得大国的信任。所以有的谦下是为了获取，有的谦下是为了被接纳。大国不过是想兼并养育别国的人，小国不过是想加入侍奉大国。这样双方各得其所，大国尤其应该谦下。

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