Laozi · Complete work
Chapter 30
Chapter 30 of 81. Read it here for reference, or continue through the entire work without leaving the reader.
Open the complete readerOriginal Classical Chinese
以道佐人主者，不以兵強天下。其事好還。師之所處，荊棘生焉。大軍之後，必有凶年。善有果而已，不敢以取強。果而勿矜，果而勿伐，果而勿驕。果而不得已，果而勿強。物壯則老，是謂不道，不道早已。
Mouseia
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from the original source for fidelity, modern clarity, beauty, symbolism, and structure.
One who aids a ruler by the Way does not use arms to force all under heaven.Such deeds are apt to return.Where armies have encamped, thorns and brambles grow.In the wake of a great army, a dire year is sure to come.One who is good achieves the result and stops, not daring to seize strength through it.Achieve the result without vaunting it, achieve the result without boasting, achieve the result without pride.Achieve the result only from necessity; achieve the result without force.When things grow strong, they age: this is called being against the Way; what is against the Way soon ends.
OpenTao
Complete CC BY 4.0 translation made directly from the received Chinese text; source line structure preserved.
Whoever aids a ruler through the Way does not use arms to dominate the world.Such actions tend to recoil on those who take them.Where an army camps, brambles and thorns spring up.Great armies pass; famine years surely follow.A good commander secures the objective and stops there, never using success to press for dominance.Achieve it without self-satisfaction; achieve it without boasting; achieve it without arrogance.Achieve it only because no choice remains; achieve it without pressing for dominance.Whatever is driven to full strength begins to age. This is called going against the Way; what goes against the Way comes to an early end.
James Legge (1891)
Complete public-domain translation made directly from the original source text.
1. He who would assist a lord of men in harmony with the Tao will not assert his mastery in the kingdom by force of arms. Such a course is sure to meet with its proper return.
2. Wherever a host is stationed, briars and thorns spring up. In the sequence of great armies there are sure to be bad years.
3. A skilful (commander) strikes a decisive blow, and stops. He does not dare (by continuing his operations) to assert and complete his mastery. He will strike the blow, but will be on his guard against being vain or boastful or arrogant in consequence of it. He strikes it as a matter of necessity; he strikes it, but not from a wish for mastery.
4. When things have attained their strong maturity they become old. This may be said to be not in accordance with the Tao: and what is not in accordance with it soon comes to an end.