第三十一章
夫佳兵者，不祥之器，物或恶之，故有道者不处。
君子居则贵左，用兵则贵右。
兵者，不祥之器，非君子之器。
不得已而用之，恬淡为上。
胜而不美，而美之者，是乐杀人。
夫乐杀人者，则不可得志于天下矣。
吉事尚左，凶事尚右。
偏将军处左，上将军处右，言以丧礼处之。
杀人之众，以哀悲泣之，战胜，以丧礼处之。
Fine weapons are instruments of ill omen;
All things detest them.
Therefore, one who follows Dao does not dwell on them.
The gentleman values the left in peace,
But values the right in war.
Weapons are instruments of misfortune,
Not the tools of the gentleman.
When compelled to use them, calm restraint is best.
Victory is not glorious—
Those who delight in victory delight in killing.
Those who delight in killing cannot rule the world.
In auspicious events, the left is honored;
In inauspicious events, the right is honored.
Thus the lieutenant general stands on the left,
The commander-in-chief on the right—
These are positions of mourning rites.
When many people have been killed,
They should be mourned with sorrow and grief.
Even in victory, one should conduct it as a funeral.
问答讲解
问：老子怎么看待“胜利”？
答：他认为战争即使胜利，也是死亡与哀伤的象征。真正的圣人不会以杀戮为乐，而是以丧礼来对待。
Q: How does Laozi view “victory”?
A: Even victory in war is tragic, for it means death. The sage treats it with mourning, not with pride or joy.
第三十二章
道常无名。朴虽小，天下莫能臣也。
侯王若能守之，万物将自宾。
天地相合，以降甘露，民莫之令而自均。
始制有名，名亦既有，夫亦将知止，知止可以不殆。
譬道之在天下，犹川谷之于江海。
Dao is always nameless.
Though the uncarved block is small,
No one in the world can command it.
If rulers could guard it,
All things would naturally submit.
Heaven and Earth would unite,
Sweet dew would fall,
And people, without command,
Would live in harmony.
Once distinctions begin, names arise.
When names exist, one must know when to stop.
Knowing when to stop avoids danger.
Dao in the world
Is like streams and valleys flowing into rivers and seas.
问答讲解
问：“道常无名”说明什么？
答：说明大道超越名相，不依赖概念。若能守道，社会自然和谐，不必多加干预。
Q: What does “Dao is always nameless” imply?
A: Dao transcends concepts. If rulers keep to Dao, harmony arises naturally, without forceful governance.
第三十三章
知人者智，自知者明。
胜人者有力，自胜者强。
知足者富。
强行者有志。
不失其所者久。
死而不亡者寿。
He who knows others is wise;
He who knows himself is enlightened.
He who conquers others has strength;
He who conquers himself is mighty.
He who knows contentment is rich.
He who perseveres has will.
He who does not lose his place endures.
He who dies yet is not forgotten lives long.
问答讲解
问：这一章最核心的智慧是什么？
答：真正的力量不是战胜别人，而是战胜自己；真正的财富不是拥有更多，而是知足。
Q: What is the core wisdom of this chapter?
A: True strength lies in self-mastery, not conquest of others. True wealth lies in contentment, not possessions.
第三十四章
大道泛兮，其可左右。
万物恃之以生而不辞，功成而不名有。
衣养万物而不为主。
常无欲，可名于小；万物归焉而不为主，可名为大。
是以圣人终不为大，故能成其大。
The Great Dao flows everywhere,
It may go left or right.
All things depend on it for life, yet it does not refuse them.
It accomplishes, yet does not claim merit.
It nourishes all things but does not rule them.
It is always without desire—
Hence, it may be called small.
All things return to it, yet it does not rule them—
Hence, it may be called great.
Thus the sage never seeks greatness,
And so becomes truly great.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“圣人终不为大，故能成其大”？
答：圣人效法大道，无私不争。正因为不自居伟大，反而成就了真正的伟大。
Q: Why is it said “the sage never seeks greatness, thus becomes great”?
A: Because the sage, like Dao, does not claim merit. By not seeking greatness, true greatness is achieved.
第三十五章
执大象，天下往。
往而不害，安平太。
乐与饵，过客止。
道之出口，淡乎其无味，
视之不足见，听之不足闻，用之不足既。
Hold fast to the great image, and the world will come.
Coming, they suffer no harm,
They find peace and safety.
Music and food make travelers pause.
But the words of Dao,
Seem plain and flavorless.
Look at it—there is not enough to see.
Listen to it—there is not enough to hear.
Use it—it is never exhausted.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“道之出口，淡乎其无味”？
答：因为道不像音乐和美食那样能直接取悦感官，它平淡无味，却是最深远、无穷尽的力量。
Q: Why is it said “the words of Dao seem flavorless”?
A: Because Dao does not appeal to the senses like music or food. It is plain, yet inexhaustible and profound.
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