第66章 · 原文
现代白话译文
江海所以能成为百川河流的王者，是因为它善于处在下游，所以能成为百川的王。因此圣人想要在人民之上，必须用言语对人民谦下；想要在人民之前，必须把自己放在人民之后。所以圣人处在上面而人民不感到沉重，处在前面而人民不感到受害。因此天下人民乐意推崇他而不厌恶。因为他不与人争，所以天下没有人能和他争。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
The reason why the River and the Sea are able to be king of the hundred valleys is that they excel in taking the lower position. Hence they are able to be king of the hundred valleys. Therefore, desiring to rule over the people, One must in one's words humble oneself before them; And, desiring to lead the people, One must, in one's person, follow behind them. Therefore the sage takes his place over the people yet is no burden; takes his place ahead of the people yet causes no obstruction. That is why the empire supports him joyfully and never tires of doing so. It is because he does not contend that no one in the empire is in a position to contend with him.
Robert Henricks
1. The reason why rivers and oceans are able to be the kings of the one hundred valleys is that they are good at being below them. 2. for this reason they are able to be the kings of the one hundred valleys. 3. Therefore in the Sage's desire to be above the people, 4. He must in his speech be below them. 5. And in his desire to be at the front of the people, 6. He must in his person be behind them. 7. Thus he dwells above, yet the people do not regard him as heavey; 8. And he dwells in front, yet the people do not see him as posing a threat. 9. The whole world delights in his praise and never tires of him. 10. Is it not because he is not contentious, 11. That, as a result, no one in the world can contend with him?!
Addiss & Lombardo
Why do rivers and seas become kings of the hundred valleys? Because they are good at being below them. Therefore they become kings of the hundred valleys. Therefore if sages wish to be above the people, they must speak humbly to them. If they wish to be in front, they must place themselves behind. Therefore sages are above but people do not feel their weight, in front but people do not suffer harm. Therefore the world happily promotes them without resentment. Because they do not contend, no one in the world can contend with them.
Arthur Waley
How did the great rivers and seas get their kingship Over the hundred lesser streams? Through the merit of being lower than they; That was how they got their kingship. Therefore the Sage In order to be above the people Must speak as though he were lower than the people. In order to guide them He must put himself behind them. Only thus can the Sage be on top and the people not be crushed by his weight. Only thus can he guide, and the people not be led into harm Indeed in this way everything under heaven will into harm be pushed by him And will not find his guidance irksome. This he does by not striving; And because he does not strive, none can contend with him.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power. If you want to govern the people, you must place yourself below them. If you want to lead the people, you must learn how to follow them. The Master is above the people, and no one feels oppressed. She goes ahead of the people, and no one feels manipulated. The whole world is grateful to her. Because she competes with no one, no one can compete with her.