第六十一章   卑谦取上

大国者下流，天下之交，天下之牝。牝常以静胜牡，以静为下。
故大国以下小国，则取小国。小国以下大国，则取大国。故或下以取，或下而取。大国不过欲兼畜人，小国不过欲入事人。夫两者各得其所欲，大者宜为下。

 [译文]

大国要像江河的下游那样，处在交汇的位置，使百川交汇在这里。雌柔常以安静无争而胜过雄强，就是因为它柔让的缘故。所以，大国对小国谦让，就可以取得小国的信赖；小国对大国谦下，就可以取得大国的包容。所以，或大国对小国包容而获信任，或小国对大国谦下而得依赖。大国不过分地统治小国，小国不过分地依赖大国。

两方面各得所求，相安无事。要想成就大国之仪，首先要先学会谦让。

StayingLow to Gain Domination

A large country is like low land where rivers flow, a place whereeverything comes together, the female of all. The female overcomes the malewith tranquillity. Tranquillity is underneath.

Hence,is a great country can lower itself before a small country, it will win overthe small country; and if a small country can lower itself before a greatcountry,

it willgain the protection of a great country.

Thus one win by placing himself below, and the other win by being below.

After all, what a big state wants is but to annex and herd others, Andwhat a small state wants is merely to join and serve others. What a big countrywants is but to shelter others, And what a small country wants is but to beable to come in and be sheltered. What a great country wants is simply toembrace more people; and what a small country wants is simply to come to serveits patron.

Yet whata larger country wants is to unite and shelte others,

and whata small organization wants

is tojoin and to be sheltered.

Thus both get what they want. A large country ought to place itself low.