第78章 · 原文
现代白话译文
天下没有什么比水更柔弱的，但攻坚克强却没有什么能胜过它，因为没有什么能改变它。弱胜过强，柔胜过刚，天下没有人不知道，但没有人能实行。所以圣人说：承担国家的屈辱，这就叫作国家的君主；承担国家的灾祸，这就叫作天下的君王。正面的话好像反话一样。
英文译本 / English Translations
D.C. Lau
In the world there is nothing more submissive and weak than water. Yet for attacking that which is hard and strong nothing can surpass it. This is because there is nothing that can take its place. That the weak overcomes the strong, And the submissive overcomes the hard, Everyone in the world knows yet no one can put this knowledge into practice. Therefore the sage says, One who takes on himself the humiliation of the state Is called a ruler worthy of offering sacrifices to the gods of earth and millet. One who takes on himself the calamity of the state Is called a king worthy of dominion over the entire empire. Straightforward words seem paradoxical.
Robert Henricks
1. In the whole world, nothing is softer and weaker than water. 2. And yet for attacking the hard and strong, nothing can bear it, 3. Because there is nothing you can use to replace it. 4. That water can defeat the unyielding — 5. That the weak can defeat the strong — 6. There is no one in the whole world who doesn't know it, 7. And yet there is no one who can put it into practice. 8. For this reason, the words of the Sage say: 9. To take on yourself the disgrace of the state — this is called being the lord of [the altars of] earth and grain; 10. To assume responsibility for all ill-omened events in the state — this is called being the king of the world. 11. Correct words seem to say the reverse [of what you expect them to say].
Addiss & Lombardo
Nothing in the world is softer and weaker than water. Yet nothing attacks the hard and strong better. Nothing can change it. The weak overcome the strong, the soft overcome the hard. This is known by all but not practiced. Therefore the sage says: Receive the state's filth - this is the lord of the state. Receive the state's bad omens - this is the king of the world. True words seem contrary.
Arthur Waley
Nothing under heaven is softer or more yielding than water; But when it attacks things hard and resistant there is not one of them that can prevail. For they can find no way of altering it. That the yielding conquers the resistant And the soft conquers the hard is a fact known by all men, Yet utilized by none. Yet it is in reference to this that the Sage said "Only he who has accepted the dirt of the country can be lord of its soil shrines; Only he who takes upon himself the evils of the country Can become a king among those what dwell under heaven." Straight words seem crooked.
林语堂
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Stephen Mitchell
Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it. The soft overcomes the hard; the gentle overcomes the rigid. Everyone knows this is true, but few can put it into practice. Therefore the Master remains serene in the midst of sorrow. Evil cannot enter his heart. Because he has given up helping, he is people's greatest help. True words seem paradoxical.