德圆一 - Te Chapter 61

大邦者 下流也 天下之牝也 天下之郊也

牝恒以靓胜牡 为亓靓也 故宜为下

大邦以下小邦 则取小邦

小邦以下大邦 则取于大邦

故或下以取 或下而取

故大邦者不过欲兼畜人 小邦者不过欲入事人

夫皆得亓欲 则大者宜为下

大的国邦海纳百川，就像江河下游河流汇聚的样子，表现得很柔弱但为天下蓄养万物。 （雌性）柔弱比较安静，常常胜过雄强的。因为保持安静，所以表现出谦虚柔下的状态。大邦国对小邦国表现出谦虚的态度，可以获得小邦国的信任和依赖（而依附）；小邦国对大邦国表现出忍让，就能被大邦国所包容，获得更多的资源。所以谦虚忍让既可以表达善意以获得包容，也可以建立信任获得依附。 所以大邦国不要放纵自己（扩张）的野心，自然可以培养出（收获）更多的人口；小邦国不要放纵（自己强大）的野心，反而能依托大国获得更多的资源。这样反而都能达成各自的目标。各自达成了目标，和平共处的情况下，相对而言，大邦国更应该保持谦逊。

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A large country like a great river that gathers many streams, appears to be weak but actually nourishes all things.

Weakness is often quieter and more often victorious than strength. Because of this, it displays a humble and gentle state. A great country shows humility to smaller countries and gains their trust and dependence; smaller countries show forbearance to great countries and are embraced by them and gain more resources. Therefore, humility and forbearance can both express goodwill and gain acceptance, and also establish trust and dependence.

Therefore, a great country should not indulge in expansionist ambitions, and will naturally be able to cultivate more people; a small country should not indulge in ambitions of becoming stronger, and will be able to rely on a larger country to gain more resources. This way, both can achieve their goals. When both sides achieve their goals and coexist in peace, the great country should be relatively more humble.