Chapter 68

He who in (Tao's) wars has skill
Assumes no martial¹ port;
He who fights with most good will
To rage makes no resort.
He who vanquishes² yet still
Keeps from his foes³ apart;
He whose hests men most fulfil
Yet humbly⁴ plies⁵ his art.

Thus we say, 'He ne'er contends,
And therein is his might.'
Thus we say, 'Men's wills he bends,
That they with him unite.'
Thus we say, 'Like Heaven's his ends,
No sage⁶ of old more bright.'

       善为士者不武，
       善战者不怒，
       善胜敌者不兴，
       善用人者为之下。
       是谓不争之德，是谓用人之力。
       是谓配天古之极。

【译文】
       善于当士的人不勇之于武，善于投身战斗的人不泄愤激怒，善于胜敌的人不趾高气扬、骄横拔扈，善于驱动别人的人对他表示谦下。这就叫做有了不争的德，有了善于驱动别人的能耐。这就叫做符合于道。

1 martial   

adj.战争的，军事的，尚武的，威武的

参考例句：

• The sound of martial music is always inspiring.军乐声总是鼓舞人心的。
• The officer was convicted of desertion at a court martial.这名军官在军事法庭上被判犯了擅离职守罪。

2 vanquishes   

v.征服( vanquish的第三人称单数 )；战胜；克服；抑制

参考例句：

3 foes   

敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They steadily pushed their foes before them. 他们不停地追击敌人。
• She had fought many battles, vanquished many foes. 她身经百战，挫败过很多对手。

4 humbly   

adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地

参考例句：

• We humbly beg Your Majesty to show mercy. 我们恳请陛下发发慈悲。
• "You must be right, Sir,'said John humbly. “你一定是对的，先生，”约翰恭顺地说道。

5 plies   

v.使用（工具）( ply的第三人称单数 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意

参考例句：

• The ship plies between London and Sydney. 这船常航行于伦敦与悉尼之间。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The bus plies from the station to the hotel. 这辆公共汽车往来于车站和旅馆之间。 来自辞典例句

6 sage   

n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的

参考例句：

• I was grateful for the old man's sage advice.我很感激那位老人贤明的忠告。
• The sage is the instructor of a hundred ages.这位哲人是百代之师。