第69章 · 原文
现代白话译文
用兵的人曾说：我不敢主动进攻，而采取防守；不敢前进一寸，而要后退一尺。这就是说：虽然有阵势，却像没有阵势可摆；虽然要奋臂，却像没有手臂可举；虽然要对抗，却像没有敌人可对；虽然要拿着兵器，却像没有兵器可拿。灾祸没有比轻敌更大的了，轻敌几乎丧失了我的三宝。所以两军对垒力量相当时，悲愤的一方会获胜。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
The strategists have a saying, I dare not play the host but play the guest, I dare not advance an inch but retreat a foot instead. This is known as marching forward when there is no road, Rolling up one's sleeves when there is no arm, Dragging one's adversary by force when there is no adversary, And taking up arms when there are no arms. There is no disaster greater than taking on an enemy too easily. So doing nearly cost me my treasure. Thus of two sides raising arms against each other, It is the one that is sorrow-stricken that wins.
Robert Henricks
1. Those who use weapons have a saying which goes: 2. "I don't presume to act like the host, and instead play the part of the guest; 3. I don't advance an inch, but rather retreat a foot." 4. This is called moving forward without moving forword — 5. Rolling up one's sleeves without baring one's arms — 6. Grasping firmly without holding a weapon — 7. And enticing to fight when there's no opponent. 8. Of disasters, none is greater than [thinking] you have no rival. 9. To think you have no rival is to come close to losing my treasures. 10. Therefore, when weapons are raised and [the opponents] are farily well matched, 11. Then it's the one who feels grief that will win.
Addiss & Lombardo
The words of strategy are: I dare not be the host but rather the guest. I dare not advance an inch but rather retreat a foot. This is called marching without marching, rolling up sleeves without arms, grasping without weapons, confronting without enemies. No disaster is greater than underestimating the enemy. Underestimating the enemy nearly loses my treasures. Therefore when armies oppose each other, the grieving one will win.
Arthur Waley
The strategists have the sayings: "When you doubt your ability to meet the enemy's attack, Take the offensive yourself" And "If you doubt your ability to advance an inch, then retreat a foot". This latter is what we call to march without moving, To roll the sleeve, but present no bare arm, The hand that seems to hold, yet had no weapon in it, A host that can confront, yet presents no battle-front. Now the greatest of all calamities is to attack and find no enemy. I can have no enemy only at the price of losing my treasure. Therefore when armies are raised And issues joined it is he who does not delight in war that wins.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
The generals have a saying: "Rather than make the first move it is better to wait and see. Rather than advance an inch it is better to retreat a foot." This is called going forward without advancing, pushing back without using weapons. There is no greater misfortune than underestimating your enemy. Underestimating your enemy means thinking that he is evil. Thus you destroy your three treasures and become an enemy yourself. When two great forces oppose each other, the victory will go to the one that knows how to yield.