第三十六章
将欲歙之，必固张之；
将欲弱之，必固强之；
将欲废之，必固兴之；
将欲夺之，必固与之。
是谓微明。
柔弱胜刚强。
鱼不可脱于渊，国之利器不可以示人。
If you would contract something,
You must surely first expand it.
If you would weaken something,
You must surely first strengthen it.
If you would abolish something,
You must surely first promote it.
If you would take something,
You must surely first give it.
This is called subtle clarity.
The soft and weak overcome the hard and strong.
Fish must not leave the deep waters;
A nation’s sharpest weapons should not be displayed.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“柔弱胜刚强”？
答：因为柔能包容、能转化，强则容易折断。真正的智慧是顺势而为，而不是硬碰硬。
Q: Why is it said “the soft and weak overcome the hard and strong”?
A: Because softness bends and adapts, while hardness breaks. True wisdom lies in yielding and transformation, not forceful opposition.
第三十七章
道常无为而无不为。
侯王若能守之，万物将自化。
化而欲作，吾将镇之以无名之朴。
夫亦将无欲。
不欲以静，天下将自定。
Dao always acts through non-action, yet nothing is left undone.
If rulers could keep to it,
All things would transform by themselves.
When transformation brings desires,
I would restrain them with nameless simplicity.
With simplicity, there will be no desire.
Without desire, there is stillness,
And the world will naturally be at peace.
问答讲解
问：什么是“无为而无不为”？
答：不是不作为，而是顺应自然，不妄为。这样一来，一切自然成就，无需强行。
Q: What is “non-action yet nothing left undone”?
A: It does not mean doing nothing, but acting in accord with nature. Thus, all is accomplished without force.
第三十八章
上德不德，是以有德；下德不失德，是以无德。
上德无为而无以为；下德为之而有以为。
上仁为之而无以为；上义为之而有以为。
上礼为之而莫之应，则攘臂而扔之。
故失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼。
夫礼者，忠信之薄，而乱之首。
前识者，道之华，而愚之始。
是以大丈夫处其厚，不居其薄；处其实，不居其华。
故去彼取此。
Highest virtue is not conscious of virtue, and so it truly has virtue.
Lowest virtue never departs from virtue, and so it lacks virtue.
Highest virtue acts without acting;
Lowest virtue acts with intention.
Highest benevolence acts without intention;
Highest righteousness acts with intention.
Highest propriety acts, but when no one responds, it stretches its arms and enforces it.
Thus, when Dao is lost, virtue arises;
When virtue is lost, benevolence arises;
When benevolence is lost, righteousness arises;
When righteousness is lost, propriety arises.
Propriety is the thinness of loyalty and faith,
And the beginning of disorder.
Foreknowledge is the ornament of Dao,
And the beginning of folly.
Thus, the great man dwells in substance, not in surface;
In fruit, not in flower.
Therefore, he chooses the latter and leaves the former.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“失道而后德，失德而后仁，失仁而后义，失义而后礼”？
答：这是老子对文明层层退化的批评。道是自然本真，失去道才需要德，再退化才有仁、义、礼，越往下越形式化。
Q: Why does it say “when Dao is lost, virtue arises; when virtue is lost, benevolence arises,” etc.?
A: Laozi critiques civilization’s decline. Dao is natural truth; losing it leads to artificial layers—virtue, benevolence, righteousness, propriety—progressively more superficial.
第三十九章
昔之得一者：天得一以清，地得一以宁，神得一以灵，谷得一以盈，
万物得一以生，侯王得一以为天下正。
其致之也：谓天无以清将恐裂，地无以宁将恐废，
神无以灵将恐歇，谷无以盈将恐竭，万物无以生将恐灭，
侯王无以贵高将恐蹶。
故贵以贱为本，高以下为基。
是以侯王自谓孤、寡、不谷。此其贱之为本耶？非乎？
故致数车无车。
不欲琭琭如玉，珞珞如石。
In ancient times, those who attained the One:
Heaven attained the One and became clear;
Earth attained the One and became stable;
Spirits attained the One and became divine;
Valleys attained the One and became full;
All things attained the One and lived;
Rulers attained the One and brought order to the world.
If Heaven lost the One, it would split;
If Earth lost the One, it would collapse;
If spirits lost the One, they would vanish;
If valleys lost the One, they would dry;
If all things lost the One, they would perish;
If rulers lost the One, they would fall.
Therefore, nobility is rooted in humility;
Height is founded on lowliness.
Thus rulers call themselves “orphaned, widowed, unworthy”—
Is this not acknowledging their root in humility?
Hence, the greatest adornment is no adornment.
Do not desire to shine like jade,
But be solid like stone.
问答讲解
问：这里的“一”指什么？
答：“一”指大道的统一与根本。天地万物与人类社会若失去这个根本，就会崩解。
Q: What does “the One” mean here?
A: It refers to Dao as the fundamental unity. Without it, Heaven, Earth, beings, and rulers lose stability and perish.
第四十章
反者道之动；弱者道之用。
天下万物生于有，有生于无。
Reversal is the movement of Dao;
Weakness is the function of Dao.
All things under Heaven are born from being;
Being is born from non-being.
问答讲解
问：为什么说“反者道之动”？
答：因为自然万物盛极必衰、衰极必盛，这是道的运行规律。
“弱者道之用”则提醒我们，柔弱才是大道真正的力量。
Q: Why does it say “reversal is the movement of Dao”?
A: Because in nature, everything turns into its opposite—prosperity declines, decline brings growth.
“Weakness is the function of Dao” reminds us that true power lies in softness.
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