第七十八章

天下莫柔弱于水，而攻坚强者莫之能胜，其无以易之。弱之胜强，柔之胜刚，天下莫不知，莫能行。是以圣人云，受国之垢，是谓社稷主；受国不祥，是为天下王。正言若反。

In all the world, nothing is softer or weaker than water, yet nothing is better at attacking the hard and strong. There is nothing that can replace it. The weak overcomes the strong; the soft overcomes the hard. Everyone in the world knows this, yet no one can practice it. Therefore the sage says: 'He who takes upon himself the humiliation of the state is called the lord of the altars of earth and grain; he who takes upon himself the calamities of the state is called the king of all under heaven.' True words seem paradoxical.

白话译文

天下没有什么比水更柔弱的了，但攻克坚强的东西没有什么能胜过水，因为没有什么可以替代它。弱能胜强，柔能胜刚，天下没有人不知道这个道理，但没有人能够实行。所以圣人说：承担国家的屈辱，才配做国家的君主；承担国家的灾祸，才配做天下的君王。合乎真理的话听起来像是反话。

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